When the shepherds would bring their flocks to the watering hole in Biblical times, the sheep would mingle together and the herds would get mixed up and divided.  But then the shepherd would begin to call his sheep and because they knew his voice, all the sheep that belonged to him would begin to separate them-selves from the rest.  The sheep that didn’t belong wouldn’t even pay attention to the voice of the shepherd because they didn’t recognize his voice.  But the shepherd’s voice would cull out his own and he would lead them out.

 

Let us use that analogy to illustrate what we believe.  There are so many people who are gathering at the watering hole of religion. Everything seems so mixed up and divided and it’s hard to decipher which sheep belong to whom and what shepherd owns what sheep.  But I hear the good shepherd calling out to His people and there is a shuffling taking place.  A culling out if you will.  Sheep are coming out of every corner and every denomination.  Sincere, hungry people are hearing a sound and there is a convergence taking place in our community.  Sheep we didn’t even know belonged to the shepherd are coming out.  People we didn’t even know were hungry for God are moving towards the shepherd.  And how will we determine who the church is?  It will be determined by those who are able to hear the voice of the Lord.  Those who will follow the leading of the spirit!  Those who are willing to leave behind tradition and religious custom and pursue the call of the shepherd!

 

God is merging His flocks and gathering His church.  He’s joining us up with sincere people who love God and pray and give and want nothing more than to see the glory of God!  People like Cornelius mentioned in Acts 10.  Cornelius was a man of Caesarea, a centurion of the Italian band.  The Bible describes him as a devout man, and one that feared God along with his entire house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.  Cornelius was a man who was having visions.  He was one of thousands in the Gentile world who were weary of paganism and who were hungry for the coming of the Messiah, the Christ who would deliver them from their sins and lead them into an abundant, Spirit-filled life.   

Acts 10:3-6

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.  4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.  5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 

God was working behind the scenes to join together His Jewish flock with His Gentile flock. 

Acts 10:7-8

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;  8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

When God told Cornelius what he was going to do, he didn’t question it.  He sent his servants immediately. 

Acts 10:9-16

9 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:  10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.  15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  16 This was done thrice: [three times] and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Cornelius got it the first time but it took Peter three times to accept what God was saying.  Even then he couldn’t wrap his brain around it. 

Acts 10:17-48

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.  21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?  22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.  23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.  24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.  [An entire congregation]  25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.  26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.  27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.  28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.  29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?  30 And Cor-nelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright cloth-ing,  31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

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