I Too Am Just A Man

I Too Am Just A Man

Acts 10:23-48 ‘…But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man…’

By Kurai Chitima

The Bible is very clear about honoring servants of the mighty God who do their work well and labor in the word (1 Tim 5:17-18; Hebrews 13:17). The more they serve with joy the more you benefit. The anointing you respect and honor is the anointing you benefit from. The question however remains - can reverence become improper? Is there a limit to what we can do to honor? Peter demonstrated that yes there is a limit. Cornelius fell at his feet in reverence (proskuneo) and immediately he corrected him and redirected attention to Christ (Acts 10:25-29).  The onus is on the servant of God to correct the people. Cornelius had crossed the line. You cross the line when you see yourself as being inferior, when you see God’s servants as being more than human and when you fail to see God rightly.  No matter how many miracles or no miracles one does one remains only human (Acts 10:26).  By ‘I am also human’, Peter communicated to Cornelius that:

>You are not inferior. I am as human as you are. I came all the way from Joppa risking my reputation among Jews because you Cornelius are special. You are too special to fall to me. You do not deserve to do that. I could just as well fall at your feet if I did not know better. We all have equal standing before God. The ground at the foot of the cross is level. God shows no favoritism. We all have equal access (Heb 4:16; James 5:17). All the people God has used remarkably are just like you. Be encouraged each time you see someone being used by God because it gives you an idea of what God can do with you also (John 14:12). No one has a monopoly of God.

>I am not special. Peter was saying I do not deserve worship. Apart from God, I am a shaking reed. I am imperfect like other faith heroes (Rahab, Ruth, David etc). I denied the Lord. I have just realized Christ died for Gentiles also (Acts 10:34, 35). I face doubts, I am tempted, I also need help and I have unanswered questions. Nothing makes me special- not even my Jewish background, my gender, my education, my totem, etc BUT grace through faith in God. Peter was saying I have no ambition to be the fourth person in the Trinity. I am content with my place at the cross of Jesus. I desire that I decrease and God increases. The glory is in earthen vessels. I desire to be broken enough to let the glory come out. If I am human there are times when the earthen vessel dominates so do not gullibly just swallow everything search the Scriptures and discern when it is the glory and when it is the earth.

>I am just a witness.  Peter redirected the reverence and glory to Christ who they knew. Jesus, anointed by the Holy Spirit, went about preaching the gospel of peace and doing good works was the one they bore witness.  He was put to death but God raised him on the third day (Acts 10:38f).  Jesus is Lord of all. All the prophets also bear witness that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43). As Peter spoke the chief witness the Holy Spirit came down (Acts 10:44-46). The Holy Spirit comes where Christ is glorified.

At Faith Ministries JFLC, God can also use you. Trust him and walk with him in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Build your supernatural ability by enriching yourself in the Word of God (Col 3:16) and prayer.  God wants your confirmation. Peter asked, why have you called me (Acts 10:29)? What do you want? Confess with your mouth. Open your heart, your life, your situation to Christ. Let him have his way. Yours is not to judge others. Only God sees the heart. Simply examine your own heart as a giver or recipient of ministry.  Also, share with others what God is doing. Peter took others with him to Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:23). Cornelius called his relatives and friends (Acts 10:27).