Acts 10:34-44 KJV 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of 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 slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. We think of the crusades of the Christian era during the Roman Empire and cringe at the idea of war. There is a fine line between religious war and political war. Some nations may pray to God concerning war and feel the war cry of battle in their heart as did those in Israel during the wars that regain their land as well as took land to live upon. We must stop here and ask was God in that war, most would agree yes. Bible says God lead the war he was given victory for the war. Just like Christian era the crusades were given such title. We know the kingdoms rise and fall sometimes based on war technology and other times by the power of God alone the battle was won, because of the technology of the day was undeftable by natural power. Some would even claim that war strategy maybe the key as well. War is different then Christian crusades/revivals of this century and the early church. We must separate the era of war from the era of peaceful marching. Wars are for all kinds of things and whatever God you chose to worship lead the battle of the time. For God's people war defeat was because of sin that wrecked their peace. What is a revival/crusade for Christ of the early church as well as for this era, it not about politics. It not about winning or loosing, it about salvation individual despite, race, creed, nationality, or even social traditions outside of faith. When revival would break out it broke out because Jesus was proclaimed to the lost in need of Jesus and they receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is a Gospel of Peace. It is not about war in regards to political nature, it war of spiritual nature. To proclaim Christ and when the people received Christ the devil lost one more battle over one person's soul. Each person despite nationality, race, creed and social tradition outside of faith is worthy to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Chapter ten of Acts is the sermon that Peter preach to a gentile name Cornelius who sent for Peter because of vision from God. He was a Italian army leader and his name had come up because of his chariety and devoutness of faith. Angel told him to go to Joppa and he would find Peter would tell him what he must do. Peter was a man of faith and preached the Gospel but apparently only to the Jews because of traditions. Peter had a dream about unclean and clean. Meaning faith had nothing to do with tribe or tribal custom as far as who was worthy to hear the Gospel of peace, all was worthy. Peter would go with the men Cornelius sent to fetch him, to share the Gospel message. Jesus preached the gospel of peace. Jesus spoke to both Jew and Gentile. He never showed particiality. God's word was not meant to be heard by only one tribe of people but be heard by the entire world. Even the Christmas story was proclaimed to both Jew and Gentile. The gospel message of peace, about salvation to the world and that Holy Spirit would come to all believers. Peter began to preach and teach to Cornelius and his family about Jesus and message of hope to the world. He preached how God was not God of respector of person. Cornelius already knew this because God sent an angel to speak to him. Peter was learning even though he had walked and ministered with Jesus. Sometimes our personal beliefs interfere with ministry. Despite our social traditions faith breaks those barriers. One of my most loved stories of how people going to another country would walk into a Christian church and sit down and worship without any problem because scripture is the same everywhere. The legal systems of our world vary from country to country. Some agree and disagree on how to best solve social and political issues. Faith in Christ we are all the same, yet there are many churches because of doctrinal issues. Yet I should be able to worship in any Christian group because of faith in Christ. Many people believe in God but do not agree who God is or even what He does in the world, beyond basic of creation and not all agree on how God created. Now that is a headache. Why one Son, named Jesus? Sin separated us from God. Many religions do believe people sin, and some even agree with sacrificial law. Christianity agrees with sacrificial law, for Christ came to replace the sacrificial law with the cross and resurrection. In scripture there is talk of tribes worshipping their gods and sacrificing their children to fire. Not one child ever returned that is mentioned. Jesus was sacrifice was on a cross. Jews sacrificed by burnt offerings, such as sheep and bulls. Yet the Messiah was coming to be crucified on a pole. What makes the cross unique? He was sacrificed for religious reason as well as political reason. First he was king of the Jews declare and even had coronation by the people with the triumphal entry. He was sacrificed religiously because of the crowds that would follow Jesus. The religious leaders thought it was better to sacrifice one then be punished for one man(John 11:49-53). The cost of one life because of who He was as declared by God has his only begotten Son. They killed him for religion and political reasons. God ordained him to take the punishment for sin. Adam and Eve betrayed God's authority both politically and religious in their life when they obeyed the serpent. God is both Sovereign Ruler of the universe meaning both religiously and politically. Yet at the same time a man was sacrifice for this role of both sovereign leader both politically and spiritually. His death would of been just another king dying if He had not been raised from the dead. He be just another priest that died, if it was not for the resurrection. Jesus was the bloodline of Judah/ King David that made him a King. He was priestly line by the Levitical tribe and also from a tribe of Moabites because of Ruth the mother of Obed that was grandfather to King David. And other nations intermarried with the Jews. This is only important if you are Jewish, because it apart of prophesy of the historical genealogy line of Christ. These two records of both kingly recorded and the religious recorded would of been kept at that time. Yet this was also important to the Gentiles, by showing He was prophesied Messiah to be the sacrifice for sin, but he was also witness by God through His baptism at the river Jordan when John baptized him, God anointed Jesus to be the Savior of the World and He declare Christ was His Son and the dove came down from heaven as a sign of the Holy Spirit. A dove is a symbol of peace. The dove came back with olive branch to Noah who was in the ark. A symbol of the storm being completely over and the water was receding. Christ was a symbol of peace to the world, When baptized into Christ we are baptized into His peace. When we are laid to rest after our death we are said to rest in peace. Just like the serpent on the pole the message was through the prophets that anyone that would believe in this Messiah would have eternal life. Repentance is necessary part of faith, because it is the turning away from sin because what Christ has done for each of us. Now back to Acts 10:36, have I not expanded on these scriptures that follow. Let me expand once more. Christ is Lord and by that we know through the ancients and by testimony of God to man as well as to the soul of each man. God's testimony to Cornelius caused the baptism of God to fall on all that believed in the gathering of people before Peter. The People that came with Peter were astonishd and said why can these gentiles not be baptized with water if God has baptised them with His Spirit. Cornelius was a devout man of God and so was his family in faith, they did not know their Messiah had come. This is why Peter need to come. This is why Peter came to telll Cornelius because of the hope they needed. They received the Christ sacrifice for sin and the Holy Spirit just on hearing the truth. The gospel of peace between man and God. When Christ anointed the disciples he anointed them with the Holy Spirit and sent them forth with the Gospel of peace to all mankind(John 20). Now if you think on Peter's life one can not argue that God used Cornelius to kick started the ministry of Christ and the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. Peter may of only gone first to his brether the Jews like Jesus, but he would expand in ministry and leadership of church by going second to the Gentiles. The twelve apostle would learn from God how He was no respector of person, meaning race, nationality, creed, or social tradition, and that all were worthy to be forgiven of sin. Dear Heavenly Father thank you for showing the world we all are in need of Christ forgiveness in our life. That we are worthy by faith. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: John 20:21-23 KJV 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. http://www.turtle30cshell.com