When He Is Come - Media Sabda Org

WHEN HE IS COME
by
Joshua Stauffer
Chapter 19
CLEAN UNCOMMON MEN
"What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" (Acts 10:15).
God has designed that the saved and sanctified person shall be clean and uncommon. Far too
many people are only common and unclean. In the incident of Peter and Cornelius, it was essential
for God to work at both ends of the line in order to bring both men together, for Peter was a Jew and
Cornelius a Gentile. An angel appeared to Cornelius, informing him that he should call for Simon
Peter to come to his house and he would more fully explain the way of salvation to him. On the other
hand, the Lord had to prepare Peter and make him willing and ready to go to the house of a Gentile.
While Peter was praying on the housetop, a vision appeared to him, that of a vessel descending to
him, as it had been a great sheet being let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of beasts,
creeping things, and fowls. A voice said, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for
I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." The voice informed him, "What God hath
cleansed, that call not thou common." This sheet descending from heaven full of unclean creatures,
which had been cleansed by God, represents the church. The church had its origin in heaven, and its
destiny will be heaven. The church is being formed of peoples from all lands, tongues and tribes,
which have been cleansed by God. Peter went with the men who were sent by Cornelius and
preached to him and his household. As he preached, the Holy Ghost fell on all of them, sanctifying
every one. Later, Peter said that God gave them the Holly Ghost and purified their hearts by faith.
Some people stress the power and others stress the cleansing in the baptism with the Holy Ghost.
Both are to be appreciated, accepted, and believed, for they are the twofold work of the Lord in the
baptism with the Spirit.
I. The Commonness of People
When anything has become customary, usual, familiar, or of general occurrence, practice, and
standard, that makes it common. Common, implies the lack of distinguishing, conspicuous, or
exceptional qualities. It suggests that which is usual and ordinary. Most people are common because
they desire to be like others, do like others do, live like others live, act like others act, dress like
others dress, and justify themselves that they are just as good as others, do as much as others do, give
as much as others give, all because that is the way everybody else does. They compare themselves
among themselves and measure themselves among themselves and rise no higher than others rise.
People are influenced too much by that which others do, and give no special reason for it only that
"everybody does it."
II. The Causes for Commonness
A spirit of fear has cheated many out of becoming unique, extraordinary, great, and aggressive.
Their fearing what others think of them has defeated them from forging ahead. A lack of