How can Acts 11:9 inspire us to overcome personal prejudices in ministry? A Word From Heaven: Acts 11:9 “ ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ ” The Command That Confronts Prejudice • Spoken twice to Peter, the declaration leaves no room for debate. • God, not culture, determines who is “clean.” • The authority is divine and final; to resist is to oppose God Himself (Acts 11:17). Why This Matters for Our Hearts • Prejudice is more than social bias; it is a spiritual misalignment with God’s verdict. • When the Lord declares someone cleansed through Christ, our only faithful response is acceptance (Romans 15:7). • Viewing people through personal filters insults the finished work of the cross (1 Corinthians 12:13). Practices That Dismantle Prejudice in Ministry – Start with Scripture, not stereotypes: rehearse truths like Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:14-16. – Let the Spirit reorder your perspectives: pray through Acts 10–11 and invite conviction. – Replace labels with names: spend intentional time with believers from backgrounds you once avoided (Acts 11:12). – Speak the gospel impartially: proclaim Christ to every listener without adjusting its power or promise (Romans 1:16). – Celebrate testimonies of unexpected conversions; they reinforce what God can “make clean” (Acts 15:7-9). Guardrails to Stay Aligned • Test attitudes regularly: ask if any group still feels “impure” to you. • Measure ministry decisions by God’s verdict, not community pressure (James 2:1-4). • Keep the cross central; at Calvary all distinctions die (Colossians 3:11). Fruit We Can Expect – Deeper unity in the body (Psalm 133:1). – Expanded reach of the gospel as barriers fall (Acts 11:21). – Personal joy from walking in step with God’s heart (John 15:11). Summary Acts 11:9 shatters the walls we build around our ministries. When God calls someone clean, our only faithful option is welcome, service, and shared mission. |
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