God’s Boundaries
We can get very concerned at the thought of God doing something unexpected. As Christians who read and love the Bible, we like to think we’ve worked out all the ways God can and will work. There is obvious safety in that. Without some boundaries we have no way of evaluating what is said or done when it claims to be of God. God remains a God of absolute truth.
But let’s be very sure we’ve arrived at God’s boundaries. In Acts 8 we read of a persecution that scattered many of the early Christians from Jerusalem. Luke notes that the apostles remained in the city. Philip goes into Samaria and has a large number of Samaritans responding to the gospel (Acts 9). Because Samaritans are so far removed from Jews, Peter and John come up to see for themselves. They are astounded. God is working outside their box. Peter and John lay hands on these new followers and they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Again, outside their box.
Peter and John return to Jerusalem but decide to preach in Samaritan villages on the way back (Acts 8:25). So far outside the box that it’s surprising Luke includes it.
Peter clearly did not remain in Jerusalem because we read ‘as Peter travelled about the country …’ (Acts 9:32). Peter was beginning to understand that God’s boundaries were bigger than his. Soon he is in Lydda (9:32), then Joppa (vs.36-43) from where he will travel to Caesarea to answer Cornelius’ call to minister to Gentiles in Caesarea.
Peter learnt an extraordinary lesson. He finally let God determine the boundaries. Make sure you do too.
To listen to this message, download in MP3 here.