Pastor's Ponderings: Tuesday Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles 10:44-48 (January 20, 2026)

January 20, 2026:  Tuesday Bible Study on Acts 10:44-48

Good morning, and may your day be filled with the LORD'S richest blessings of Grace and Comfort.

This morning, I would ask you to pray with thanksgiving to God for Roy's and Christina's birthdays this week.  We are also quickly approaching the 76th birthday of our congregation.  Pray for Americans continuing ministry for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, remembering that it takes all of us in dedication to the work to which the Church is called to make it happen.  The best way to celebrate our church's birthday is to come to church as often as we possibly can, participating in the fellowship of Christ, and the joy of the saints who gather around us, while doing regular Bible Study so our faith will grow, receiving the Sacrament of the Altar,  and giving the support that we know is right between ourselves and God so that our ministry will continue. 

This all seems like a too obvious a segway from our lives, ministry for the Gospel, and how dedicated we are in our relationship with the Lord.  But here we are in today's reading, like Peter and those who have accompanied him from his stay with Simon, the tanner to go meet the Roman Centurion Cornelius.  In our brief passage for today, we find that the entire household of Cornelius has been moved by Christ's Spirit, and that they are speaking in the heavenly (perhaps angelic) language of tongues.  This seems to be a measuring rod for the Jews who have accompanied Peter, indicating to them the authenticity of these gentile's coming to know Christ as their Lord.  I must admit that I have never had the experience of speaking in tongues, and it is likely you have not either, but in Scripture it is a gift of the Spirit which some people experience.  I think that it is primarily for the edification of the one who speaks in that language and is only appropriate in worship settings if a person who has the gift of translation is present.  I can tell you that I have seen this gift misused, but I have also known it as genuine in one of our triumphant saints at American.  Nearly every Eastern religion has a kind of consuming Spiritual event for some individual members of that faith.  In all of this, our place is to remember that this is a real experience, a genuine gift of the Spirit.  I could get into a prolonged conversation about the 27 -29 gifts of the Spirit which are bestowed upon believers in differing potencies.  Faith is one of these, and we are told clearly that we will be given the measure of faith by the Spirit which is able to carry us through the toughest of times, with it being less potent at other times.  Our Spiritual Gifts are best realized by the acclamation of others around us, helping us to see through their eyes, what we may struggle to see through our own.  I often hear that I am different from other preachers.  No notes to read from!  Words of Christ from my own heart as I have been moved to do for many years now.  In my life, it is my thanksgiving to Christ for His forgiveness and Grace that I speak so freely with the presence of His Spirit in me, and for everyone who will hear.  This preaching is a true Christ Treasure in my life.  I often think as I become the same age as our church in Tucson, that I am unprepared to stop using my gifts for preaching the Love of Christ for all of you, and for the future of the whole Church.  In Christ I have so much more to say!  I feel that this is where Peter was in the home of Cornelius, and Peter's words brought to Cornelius and his entire household the potency and abundance of faith in the Savior.  In this passage it is a bit unclear who is actually performing the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  It may have been Peter, but it may have also been other members of the entourage who had accompanied Peter to the home of Cornelius.  Today in the Church, we have attempted to limit who is to do Baptisms, but an ordained clergy is not always at hand to offer the Sacrament.  Here is the truth.  Any believer in Christ, has the privilege of Baptizing.  What is important in this, is that the Baptism gets recorded at the Church so that it will not be repeated.  Baptism is a once and for all action to bring the Spirit and faith into the life of the one who is Baptized.  That is all I am going to say here, I could continue to write further about this, but it suffices to say that it is the privilege of believers to Baptize.

Thanks for being with me today.  I will write on Thursday about our study on Psalms.

With the Love of Christ for our lives, Pastor Kim