The broadcast is a multi‑speaker sermon from 514 Grace Church, led primarily by Speaker C with interjections from Speaker A, Harry Pitts, and the congregation. The central theme is “The Kingdom of Heaven: God’s Way of Living in Freedom and Victory,” focusing on part 3, segment B of the series. The message expounds that the Kingdom of Heaven is a present spiritual reality that transforms lives through the grace of Christ, contrasting it with legalistic religious tradition. Using Isaiah 49 and the New Testament accounts of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26‑39) and Cornelius (Acts 10), the sermon illustrates God’s prophetic mandate to include the Gentiles, emphasizing that conversion and baptism (water and Spirit) are the missing elements for these seekers. The speakers critique churches that cling to tradition over grace, call listeners to personal confession (Romans 10:9‑10), to receive the Holy Spirit, and to support the ministry financially. The broadcast ends with a poetic rap‑style declaration of personal transformation through grace. The overall purpose is evangelistic: to persuade listeners to accept Christ, be baptized, and join the church’s outreach, while providing theological teaching on the Kingdom, inclusion, and the necessity of a heart‑focused conversion.
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This program Is brought to you in part by the friends and partners of 514 Grace Ministries.
Coming up next on the Grace Nation broadcast, and hit the kingdom, things can begin to happen. Amen. And we're not going to belate a moment anytime. We're going to get right into the lesson once again.
Five fourteen. So don't just talk grace. Look, turn that face all the way up. Let's go! I came here with the word on me, whole squad. In the church, got the dirt on me. From the blocks to the birds, took the light in the dark. Spark up the flame, let it burn extra much. Enemies shook when the saints get to stepping. Flav came in sexy like I'm bitch fresh repping. Never been soft with us, folks. To the earth, blood all crossfade. That's inside of words. Faith fall on and it can't be stopped. From the east to the west, man, they wearing this block. Every chain fall off and the name get dropped. 514, we stay on top. The only year that came different in this life.
Safe walk every year we stepping.
We Christ, no cap. We don't fold when the drowns get tight. We brave and we cool, that's the key. You find it's more than the sun and this is how we grind. We the church in the streets with the truth in the rhymes. Niggas looking for hope, better follow the sign. We got grace in the blood and the blood on the line. Who got saved?
We did!
Who got raised?
He did!
Who grace saved?
Jesus!
Who speak of Christ? Jesus! This ain't just a song, it's a statement. Grace is our sound. The word is our stage.
Because it will take us to a different place. Praise God. Once we get out of the mentality that we're not under the laws of the earth and the world, but we're under a governing law of Jesus Christ and the kingdom, things can begin to happen. Amen.
Amen.
And we're not going to belabor the moment any time. We're going to get right into the lesson. Once again, the title of this message is The Kingdom of Heaven: God's Way of Living in Freedom and Victory. We're going to go over part 3 once again, the segment B. There's still a little bit more that can come out of part 3. Amen.
Amen.
Praise God. So, one thing that part 3 talks about, that 3rd characteristic, a present spiritual reality transforming lives, and that's something that the good news of the kingdom of heaven does and the teaching of Jesus Christ and the grace of Christ under the kingdom of heaven.
Amen?
Amen.
Amen.
It transforms lives.
Yes, yes, right.
Amen?
Amen.
Praise God. And we're going to take some time to study and to talk about God's reign with the kingdom, meaning the way he does things, which is different from the world and the way the religion does things. It's totally 2 different things. Amen?
Amen.
And that's what Jesus was teaching in the land when he was here, trying to get people out of the old way of Judaism, teaching of the law and the tradition of the Jews and the rabbinic priests teaching of those traditions to get it into the people's hearts and minds of the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
Amen.
And the kingdom of God. Amen. Praise God. And one of the directives of God's new way is talking about receiving people that in Jewish tradition and Jewish law were forbidden, praise God, to, uh, for the Jews to be around. And we're going to talk about that. Amen. We're going to give scripture for this. This is not something that I'm trying to come up on my own theory and whatnot. No, we got Bible to teach this. I'm not making up nothing. Praise God.
Hallelujah.
I might've been born at night, but it wasn't last night. Amen. Praise God. This is too much fire up in here. Amen.
Amen.
Praise God. So God is going to be showing us that one of his, um, one of his priorities or one of his directives in the kingdom of heaven is to include the Gentiles. Amen. At one time, the Jews were putting themselves away from communicating with the Gentiles, with their traditions and with their laws. Amen.
Amen.
But God said, no more. I need them to have the teaching of the kingdom of heaven as well, because I can engraft them as well if they believe and receive. It's not for the Jews only, for the Gentile as well. the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ. Amen.
Amen.
And we're going to see this prophesied in Isaiah 49, verse 6, the C part of verse 6. Isaiah 49, verse 6, the C part of verse Verse 6. Verse 6, meaning the latter part, the end part. Praise God. Verse 6, the latter part, it prophesies, I will also make you a light for the Gentiles. That's flat-out Scripture. Now light simply means there's nothing to that you have to have a rocket scientist to understand. When you have light in a dark place, that's what you want. Because if there's no light around, you're going to trip and fall, and you might hurt yourself wandering around in the dark. And light gives understanding. So God is like casting light, says I will also make you.
That's right.
A light for the Gentiles. God is prophesying his plan, what he's going to be doing in the Old Testament. And we said last week from Matthew chapter 13, verse 52, that a scribe, which is a teacher of the law— the scribes were the expert teachers of the law— once that scribe has been converted and transformed to teach the kingdom of heaven. He's like a man who has a treasure, bringing out new things and old things.
That's right.
The old things coming from the Old Testament, from the Old Covenant. And we're in the Old Covenant right now with Isaiah bringing out what? A treasure. That's why we said last week Do not avoid reading the Old Testament.
That's right.
Just doing it in the right perspective.
That's right.
What is the right perspective? Bringing out those things from the Old Covenant, the Old Testament, that's going to prove, that's going to verify, that's going to give merit to the grace of God, to Jesus Christ, the coming of Jesus Christ, the teachings of Jesus Christ. It's in there.
Yes.
And we're gonna be seeing it. We're gonna see how Jesus said his own self, saying that he was in the Old Testament. We're gonna show it. This is not something I'm gonna be speaking out of my mind. No, I'm gonna be bringing— using the word of God. There's too much fire up in here, amen? I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. Malachi prophesied in the Old Testament. Amen. We're bringing out of the, um, the Old Testament treasures.
Yes. Amen.
Amen. Verifying and proving the word of God.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
So let's get started. We're going to show how God used people that were not Jews and how he brought the good news of the gospel to them, of the kingdom of heaven. Let's go to Acts chapter 8, verses 26 through 39. Acts chapter 8, verse 26. Acts chapter 8, verse 26. Acts 8:26-39.
Hallelujah.
Acts chapter 8, amen. Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, go south to the road, the desert road. I'm coming out of the NIV, the New International Version. Then Philip— now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, go south to the road, the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is an Ethiopian eunuch. He's come to Jerusalem to worship. Now he's going back home.
Right.
But he was a Gentile.
Mm-hmm.
But he was a God-fearer.
Right.
Now in that terminology, it means he wasn't totally or converted to Judaism, but he respected the God of Israel. He respected the God of Jerusalem because he saw the right things and right characteristics, right values in the God of Israel compared to their god.
Amen. Amen.
So he wanted to be— come from a long distance, from Ethiopia, Coming from Africa. Coming up the coast, close to the Mediterranean where Gaza was, on his way to Jerusalem. And this was a wealthy official. Praise God. Hey, there's so much in this, it's ridiculous. The desert road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, this is on his way back. So verse 27, so he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch. Who did? Philip, the servant of God. Hallelujah. An important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, which means Queen of the Ethiopians. This is Black people, my friends. Africans. Amen. Amen.
Yes.
Queen of the Ethiopians.
Yes.
A treasurer.
Yes.
This means we weren't swinging out of the trees in the jungles with a club in our hand trying to make ends meet. We had people that were organized.
Yes.
People that had a government.
Yes. Amen.
This was a queen that was of wealth.
Yes.
Amen. Praise God. By the grace of God, when I— Lord permits me to have time, Either through this forum here at 514 or another forum, I'm going to be teaching on this queen, this Ethiopian situation, that this was a wealthy government. This was not no backwoods government. These people had structure and order. This Ethiopian eunuch represented a wealthy kingdom. And it was black.
Wow.
Hallelujah. Now that— what does that also show? If people want to say that Africa had nothing to do with— had no connections with Christianity in the beginning stage, it's a lie. Because it's easy to understand, to feel like the Christianity only was dealing with the Middle East and maybe with Europeans later on when I talk about going to Spain and Rome and places like that that Apostle Paul mentions.
Right.
No, they were in Africa as well.
Right.
Maybe sometimes even before some of those other cities in Europe. But it wasn't taught. No emphasis. Hallelujah! It's straight out there in the Bible. I did not write that in your in your Bible. The Ethiopian eunuch. This is a government structured order. This man had gone to Jerusalem to what? To worship. This man had sense. He knew. that the God of Jerusalem was real.
That's right, amen.
But he was not fully converted to Judaism.
That's right.
And on his way home was sitting in his chariot. My Lord.
Wow.
Most chairs you see with Moses and things like that on the movies, you see the men standing up. Nah, this man had a Lamborghini. Hallelujah. This man was sitting. Somebody else was doing the driving.
That's right.
Do you understand where I'm coming from?
Yes.
That's why I say this was not no cheat of government. This was established. They had money. They had wealth. They had organization. An established Black kingdom. And there's proof for it, third-party material that can prove this. And on his way home, he was sitting in his chariot. He wasn't standing up guiding the horses. Oh, he had someone else in charge of driving. Am I making any sense?
Yes.
The equivalent to a chauffeured limousine. Back then, this unit was not cheap.
That's right.
This man was sitting down in his chariot. Somebody else was doing the driving. On his way home, was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, go to that chariot and stay near it. So Philip ran up or walked closer to this, uh, chariot that had the Ethiopian eunuch in it. Then Philip ran to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. Now this man was going from Jerusalem down to Gaza, which was going to go down into Ethiopia. Jerusalem, Gaza, going on to Ethiopia.
Wow.
That simple. And God told Philip to go to Gaza where this man was, catch up with him. Because why? This was a Gentile who had a pure heart of wanting to understand God, wanted to understand the teaching.
He—
his heart was pure in it. He was real. He wasn't joking. My goodness.
My Lord.
So what does that show? God was not looking at the color of his skin. God was looking at his heart. God said, I'm seeing a man right there, this Ethiopian eunuch. He purely wants to understand. He purely comes all those miles from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to worship. What is missing? That conversion. He needs to receive Christ. That's why God sent Philip.
Yes.
To go to this man. That's the one thing he's lacking, the conversion. He had the seriousness to want to go find out more about God, to worship God in Jerusalem. He had the respect for God. He just needed the real— that conversion to give his heart to Christ. Is this making any sense?
Yes, sir.
Hallelujah. The Spirit told Philip, go to the chariot and stay near it. Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. Do you understand what you are reading? Philip asked. How can I, he said, unless someone explains it to me? So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now you can't— I can't go over this too fast. What is that saying? This is not no small, uh, cumbersome chariot. This chariot had room.
That's right.
He had enough room to invite another man, Philip, to come up into the chariot and sit down in the comfortable seat while somebody else was doing the driving. We rush over these things too fast. That's why I said this was an established government. African, black. Hallelujah. That's not to put down any other race, so please get that right. It's just saying that God doesn't look at the skin color, he looks at the heart. And this Ethiopian's heart was wanting to truly find out more and more about God. And God sent his servant Philip to go interpret the scripture for this man and to convert him. How can I, uh, how can I, he said, unless someone explains it to me? So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Remember, that means the chariot was of more than average size.
That's right.
That means money was put into that thing. Amen.
That's right.
Is this making any sense?
Yes.
This is the passage of scripture that Enoch was reading. He was led like a sheep to the slaughter and as a lamb before his shearers in silence. So he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of this descent of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.
Wow.
Now let me give you one thing that, praise God, myself or Pastor Pitts may be teaching on in the near future or in the forthcoming future and whatnot. When verse 33 says, in his humiliation, Yes. He was deprived of justice. Mark this. If you want to write it down, you can, but mark it somewhere in your memory or in your heart. The trial of Jesus was illegal.
That's right.
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
This is proof.
Wow.
If you go through the Roman traditional way of going through a court system and whatnot, bringing someone to council. Everything that they did, a majority of the things that they did when Jesus was on trial, was illegal.
That's right.
And we get it right here in verse 33. In his humiliation, he was what? Deprived of justice. NIV, New International Version. That's not there by mistakes, my friend. God gives us these clues showing us if we'll take time, slow down and read it and take appreciation for what it's saying. Jesus was put into a trial that the people were doing things illegal to him to get him killed.
That's right. Wow.
Verse 34. The eunuch asked Philip, tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else? Then Philip began with what that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. Hallelujah! That's the only thing he was needing, the conversion.
Wow.
God sent this man who God was looking at Philip's heart. I mean, looking at the eunuch's heart, seeing that he truly wanted to know about God in the right way.
Yes.
Then Philip began with that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. That was the purpose. That was the assignment from God. Tell this man, the Ethiopian eunuch, about the good news of Jesus. What is under the kingdom of heaven? Speaking about the good news of Jesus Christ, the grace of Christ. That's a part of being under the umbrella of the kingdom of heaven. Hallelujah! The Pharisees, the Sadducees, the scribes wasn't teaching this. They was teaching on Judaism.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
Hallelujah.
And we're going to be showing how that's brought on today in the 21st century, how things are not in all churches. Not all churches are bad, but some church— many churches are not teaching the grace of Christ, not teaching about the kingdom of heaven, not teaching about the truth of Jesus Christ. They're teaching tradition. There's some churches that they may have a particular church where there may have been 5 generations of pastors coming from the same family, and God only called the first one. But by their tradition, the next 4, they put it in a tradition where the next junior, Leroy III is going to be the next pastor. Leroy IV is going to be the next pastor. Leroy V is going to be the next pastor. They put it in a tradition, and God only called the first one. Tradition.
That's right.
In the 21st century. They had it back then in the 1st and the 3rd century. They're having it right now in the 21st century. Is this making any sense? Verse 36. As they traveled along the road, remember that that buck that our chariot was big enough for him and the Philip, the Ethiopian eunuch Philip, and the driver of the of the chariot. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look." Here's water. What can I— what can stand in the way of my being baptized?
Oh my God.
This eunuch was serious.
Yes, sir.
It was no plaything for him. He wanted that conversion. After what Philip told him, what the good news of Jesus Christ. The presence was on the message. The anointing was on the message. Just like we said last week, the presence and the anointing was on the message. That's why 514, by the grace of God, as God continues to use our pastor to teach about the kingdom of heaven, the presence is going to be on the message. The anointing is going to be on the message. It's going to convert many masses as it goes before the nations.
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
Verse 38, and he gave orders to stop the chariot. There he goes again showing the authority. He gave orders to the driver, stop the chariot. Hallelujah. He wasn't at the reins of the horses, the Ethiopian eunuch. No, he had someone to give the command to. He gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way— what? Rejoicing.
Yes. Hallelujah.
Is this making any sense?
Hallelujah.
Why was he rejoicing? He had the serious heart to want to get closer to God, to know more of God. God was watching this man for some time, not just that day, but for several months, several years, seeing this man was serious.
Right.
Then God instructed his servant Philip Go down to this man. This man is ready. He wants me. He wants to know more about me.
Convert him.
That was the only thing that was lacking, the conversion.
Yes.
And what did the Spirit lead Philip to do? To teach him about the good news of Jesus Christ. And God's anointing and God's presence was on that message. And guess what happened? Eunice says, hey, I want this thing. Driver, stop. There's water right there.
That's right.
The zeal, the desire, the passion was there. Driver, stop.
That's right.
We're not going any further.
That's right.
I heard the man of God tell me the good news of Jesus. Hallelujah. Let's go to Acts chapter 10.
Hallelujah.
Starting at verse 1, Acts chapter 10. Hallelujah. Praise God. Is anyone getting anything out of this? We're not going to belabor time, but every moment is going to be Filled with what's needed for this message. Verse one, chapter ten, verse one. At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius. What was he? Another Gentile, not a Jew. But God said, as he did in Isaiah forty-nine, "I will make you a what? A light to who? The Gentiles." This is the fulfillment. We're just seeing it coming to fulfillment. The Ethiopian eunuch was not a Jew, he was a Gentile. And Cornelius in Acts chapter 10, he's a Gentile, he's not a Jew. I will make you a light to the Gentiles. Wow. God said, I want them in as well. I want the opportunity to be there for them as well, to just receive Christ. After they heard what? The good news. Of the kingdom of heaven and of Jesus Christ and the grace of Christ. At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian regiment. Verse 2, he and all his family were devout and what? God-fearing. There it goes again, God-fearing.
Wow.
He had serious intent on knowing more about God, reverence for God, respect of God, but there was one thing he was lacking, the conversion. Hallelujah! Hallelujah.
Oh my goodness.
Why do I say it like that? Because God had been looking at this man like he was looking at the Ethiopian eunuch. He said, this man is not playing.
Amen.
He wants me. He wants to know about me. He just needs a conversion, someone to tell him about the good news of the kingdom of heaven and of Jesus Christ. He gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Hallelujah. That goes against the lie that was or sometimes may be told in one of the gospels that God doesn't hear the prayers of sinners. The person that was talking about that in that particular verse and, um, context of the scripture, they were insulting Jesus. They was saying, hey, we know that, uh, God does not hear sinners' prayers. He was calling Jesus a sinner.
Wow.
That's why he was saying that. He was mocking Jesus. But right here we see it right here. God was hearing the prayers of a Gentile. And prayed to God regularly. One day, verse 3, one day at about 3 in the afternoon, he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God who came to him and said, Cornelius. Cornelius started at him, stared at him in fear. What is it, Lord? he asked. The angel answered, your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. God had been looking at this man for a long time. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. Verse 6, he is staying with Simon the tanner whose house is by the sea. When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them. Verse nine: About noon the following day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. Now this is Peter on the other end of the people that were going to get. To come to Peter. Verse, uh, verse 10. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its 4 corners.
Hallelujah.
Verse 12, it contained what? All kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. My friends, the Lord is going to show us later on what those four-footed animals and reptiles and birds were, what they represent, later on in this chapter. Then a voice told him, Get up, Peter, kill and eat. Make this be a part of you, these four-footed animals, these reptiles and birds which you consider unclean. Surely not, Lord, Peter replied. Verse 14: I have never eaten anything impure or unclean. Peter was still with the Judaism teaching. The traditions of the Jews. Peter still had that regiment, that's, uh, that regiment is still a part of his heart.
Right.
The Jewish traditions.
Right.
Peter was still locked in that a little bit. Verse 15, the voice spoke to him a second time, do not, what? Call anything impure that God has made clean. Now this is God talking to Peter. Peter said, "I'm devout according to Jewish law and Jewish tradition. We're not supposed to eat this, and I never eaten it." God says, "I'm going to teach you a different way, Peter—a new way, the right way. Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Verse sixteen: This happened three times, and immediately the sheep. was taken back to heaven. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision— let me say that again, verse 17 bears repeating because we're going to see it later on— while Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. Now this is, praise God, probably a wealthy man. This gate was a part of his Simon the Tanner's house. Now, don't we have celebrities with gates? Before you get to their mansion, there's a gate maybe 100 yards or whatever before you get to the mansion.
Yes.
Hallelujah.
Wealth—
God doesn't have no problem with wealth. He has— uh, just want our hearts to still be continued towards him. That's why it says prosperity— what destroys That's right. The food. That's why it's so important that a believer has their relationship tight with God before they start receiving mass volumes of monies and whatnot. Because for some that too weak, when they get that money in large volumes, they want to go away from God.
That's right.
I got my million now, now I'm headed to Las Vegas. I'm headed to the brothel.
Yeah.
Hallelujah. I can see God on the 2nd Sunday. On the 3rd and 4th Sunday, I'm gonna be at the brothel. Hallelujah. Do you see what I'm saying? Prosperity destroys the food. That's why God says, hey, I have no problem with the prosperity just long as your heart is stayed with me.
That's right.
That's why God says he giveth increase and what? Addeth no sorrow to it. When that person's heart is right towards him and staying consistent with him. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. They called out asking if Simon who? was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him— this has been on Peter's mind for a while. Verse 17, that he was thinking about, wondering about the meaning of the vision. In verse 19, Peter was still thinking about the vision. It's lingering on his mind. Why? Because it's going against his tradition. What does 5:14 say it's going to do? It's going to break That's right. The traditions of religion.
That's right.
That's something our pastor has said.
Yeah.
The many traditions that we've held and whatnot, he's gonna go after it.
Yes.
If they're wrong with the Lord.
That's right.
If they're not in alignment with the Lord.
That's right.
And the many people have held in the 21st century things that are wrong towards God.
That's right.
Many traditions. Hallelujah. Almost anybody who's famous, when they die, they say they went on to be with the Lord. Did not have one conversion with the Lord. They'll say, I'll see you, you in heaven. Hopefully you won't see them in hell. Hallelujah.
Exactly.
I'm not trying to be facetious, but I'm trying to keep it real.
Right, that's right.
Not everybody that's famous when they die is on their way to heaven. As people say. That's a tradition that would normally say to be kind and be polite, be— to be what? Politically correct. That person went on to be with God. He's in a better place. And nobody knows if he's ever accepted Jesus Christ in his heart.
Wow.
Is this making any sense? Verse 19 again. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Simon, 3 men are looking for you, so get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them. Peter went down and said to the men, I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come? The men replied, we have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man. Righteous meaning he does the right thing. Hallelujah. He tries to do— be fair with people. He tried to do things with integrity and dignity.
Amen.
But he's not converted. That's the one thing he's lacking.
Lacking conversion.
He is a righteous and God-fearing man. He is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say. Now God put a special attention on this man because why? God was looking at what? His heart.
Yes.
Just like the Ethiopian eunuch. God pinpointed and put a laser beam at his heart. He said, that's what I see. I see his heart is wanting me. Hallelujah. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say. Verse 23, then Peter invited the man into the house to be his guest. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. I'm going to read that one more time. Cornelius was expecting them and had what? Called together who?
His relatives and close friends.
His relatives and close friends. Remember that. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. Stand up, he said. I'm only a man myself.
Exactly.
Some people in the 21st century is into themselves running outside. You need to stay down a little longer. Hallelujah. Acknowledge my presence. Give me some money. Nah, Peter stood the humble way. He says, I'm a man just like you. Don't worship me, worship God. Verse 27, while talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. Who is that large gathering people? The relatives and the close friends. It was what? A large— did it say small? The Bible said large gathering of people. Keep that in mind. He said to them, you are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. Peter said, this is my law. That I've been observing for years. You know, according to my law, the Jewish law, the Jewish tradition, that it is against the law for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.
That's right.
Peter had the fear of God.
That's right, amen.
So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. Peter said immediately, God, that's you, I'm gone.
That's right, amen.
Some people might struggle to obey. Say, Lord, let me think about that before I go. Peter said, I'm going immediately. May I ask why you sent for me? Verse 30. Cornelius answered, 3 days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at 3 in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house, in the home of Simon the tanner who lives by the sea. So I sent for him immediately, for you. I sent for you immediately. It was good for you to come. Now we all are here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us. Then Peter began to speak. Now This is why I told you to hold on to what we read earlier. Now I realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. What is Peter saying right here? I understand the vision.
Wow.
I understood what the sheet coming down from heaven is. with the reptiles, the unclean animals, the 4-hoofed beasts.
Amen.
I was calling the Gentiles unclean. It was not about the animals. It was about his teaching that the Gentiles were represented as being unclean and impure, and I'm not supposed to have nothing to do with them. And God is changing his teaching.
That's right.
That's what that sheet of animals and reptiles was about. The relatives.
Wow.
God is saying the very vision of that sheet of animals and reptiles and 4-hoofed animals, that's gonna be the people, Peter, you're gonna be seeing in Simon the tanner's house. The relatives and the close friends. That's what's representation of those animals and reptiles in that sheet, was the people that you had considered impure, the people that you consider not to be close to. I'm converting you, Peter. You're changing your way of thinking.
Yes.
Causing you to repent.
Yes.
Saying, I'm calling the Gentiles too.
Yes, thank you, Lord.
Didn't we see that prophesied in Isaiah 49 again? I am making you a what? Light.
Yes.
To the Gentiles. This is the fulfillment right here. I can't make it any plainer than that. It doesn't take rocket science to see this. Is this making any sense to anyone?
Yes.
That was the representation that Peter had been thinking about in verse 17 and verse 19 when it says he was thinking on the vision, thinking on the vision. He didn't understand it.
Right.
But verse 34 says, hey, now I realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. God does not show favoritism, whether the Jew or the Gentile. That's what he's saying. God wants to call everybody.
That's right.
To give everybody a chance.
Hallelujah.
Verse 36, you know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Now comes the conversion. What is he showing? The good news of the peace through Jesus Christ. What did the Ethiopian eunuch get? The good news of Jesus Christ. Do we see the common denominator? Is this over anyone's head?
Amen.
Is this simple as pie? Both situations, both men are Gentile, both men given the opportunity to hear the gospel, the good news of Jesus, under the kingdom of heaven directive. Thy will be done as it is in heaven. Thy kingdom— what? Come. Hallelujah. Do we see the comparison?
Amen.
Does it make any sense?
Amen.
Both men needed to be converted. Both men had a desire to learn about God. They were real in their desire to want to know what God is about, to get closer to God. And God saw that in their heart. And both of them need to be converted.
Amen.
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel. This is now Peter giving the message that's going to convert Cornelius. People of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil— excuse me— because God was with him.
Amen.
We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross. Verse 40, but God raised him from the dead on the 3rd day and caused him to, uh, cause him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen. Who are those witnesses that God already chosen?
Us.
By us who ate and drank with him. After he rose from the dead. It wasn't— Jesus wasn't showing himself to everybody in the community. He was showing himself directly to those who God had chosen. Why did those people need to see Jesus? This one major reason right here: they all needed to be on the same page that Jesus was resurrected.
Amen.
They had to have absolute undeniable proof in their heart. Because when they go out preaching the gospel, there's going to be so much persecution coming to them, they're going to be able to know in their knower, in the knower, in the knower of their heart.
Philip. And Philip introduces him to who? Jesus. They look for water. So in order to be a part of the kingdom, you have to be born of water and the Spirit.
Amen.
It's amazing, the importance of the kingdom of heaven. Those that were watching, thank you for watching. And I thank you that this word has blessed you. And if you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I want to say that you don't have time. You need to do this. It's not by chance that you're watching this broadcast. It's not by chance that you heard that word. This word is designed to change your very lives. So do me a favor. I want you to bow your heads. We're going to read Romans chapter 10, verse 9 and 10. And what it talks about, it talks about confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart that Jesus rose from the dead and you'll be born again. Pray this prayer with me. Father, I thank you in the name of Jesus that I'm forgiven of all of my sins. Father, that you saved me, that you come into my heart. Bless me, Father. Keep me. Give me the salvation that's spoken of in your word. I believe that Jesus died for me on the cross of Calvary and ascended on high and seated on the right hand of the Father. And because of the blood shed on Calvary, I am now forgiven. Thank you, God, for saving me, for forgiving me. I believe in Jesus' name that I'm now born again. And if you prayed this prayer with me, you are born again. You made a very good decision. Do me another favor. If God has placed it upon your heart to give, please give freely. We're a 501 church and we steward God's money correctly. But it takes money to get the things done that we need to get done. We're paying for lights and, and paying for time and marketing and all these things. To market what? To get the word of the gospel out, the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. People need to be saved, particularly in the time that we're living in. Follow us on all of our social media platforms. Look us up on our website, www.514gracechurch.org. God bless you guys. Thank you for watching. We want to say that we love you. We appreciate you greatly. Tracy and I would love to meet you in person, to shake your hand, to pray over You and your family. God bless you guys. We love you, and thank you for watching the broadcast.
Came in broken, walked in heavy, chains on tight, hard not ready. Grace stepped in smooth and steady, turned my mess to testimony confetti.
No.
No more shame on replay.
No more fear, gotta say.
Jesus love hit deep, now I breathe a new way. Hands are so free. Mercy rolled over me.
Cross talked out all truth, sweet truth.
Now my past don't own me. We don't flex on perfection, we stand on redemption. Love did the work, now we move with intention. Grace so rich.
