34 Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. ³⁷ That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Have you ever had that feeling that you are being utilized to bring about a higher purpose? Have you ever thought to yourself, "that’s my voice, but that sure doesn’t sound like anything that I could normally say?" Have you ever wondered, "how did I do that?" If you have ever had a thought that resembled one of these statements then you and Peter have a lot in common.

Peter was a hard working fisherman. His entire life had been spent honing his skills at this craft so that he might be able to feed and support his family. Then, for seemingly no reason at all, he was called to leave that existence behind and (after following Jesus around the countryside for three years) become an orator for the cause of Christ.

I’m sorry, but there is very little about that equation that makes sense, and when you look at Peter’s actions on the Maundy Thursday, as he denied, denied, and denied again, it seems like the doubters might be right.

But then we have our passage this morning, which takes place not all that long after he rejected his self-professed Lord, where Peter is proclaiming freely, openly, and definitively, the message of the resurrection of Jesus. How is this possible? How is it possible that such a transformation is able to take place?

I believe that it is able to take place because Peter has allowed himself to become a vessel that is filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak the words that of his own accord, he wouldn’t be able to say. The Peter that we see denying Jesus is the Peter who is leaning on his own strength (and that isn’t getting him all that far). The Peter who we hear speaking to Cornelius has come to see that strength is not found in himself, but in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When Cornelius says, "tell us the words that have been put upon your heart by the Lord", Peter does not say, "I can’t". Instead, he speaks and in doing so leads people to believe.

Leadership, God appointed leadership, does not come from belief in the self, but instead from a belief, a complete reliance in the Almighty. Peter stands before us in our passage this morning as a wonderful example to the church that exists today of what it means to lead. To lead others to Christ, which is what Peter says that we are called to do, is to become a vessel through which the Almighty is able to speak, and move. That sort of language shouldn’t scare you: it should fill you with hope, because regardless of how ill-equipped you feel to lead others, when God works through you it not only becomes a possibility, it becomes a reality.

The past nine days have been rather harried. The main reason that these days have taken on this hue is because of the three funerals that I have had the opportunity to officiate at. On the one hand, these occasions to recognize this important stage of life are tough because it’s not like you can schedule them into your calendar, because lets be honest, most of us are already scheduled to the hilt and the amount of flex time that we have is few and far between.

In the same breath, they are wonderful occasions to allow the presence of Jesus Christ to come into the world and shine the light of grace, forgiveness and, healing. As emotionally tiring as they may be (and when you have three in quick succession, they are), I wouldn’t opt out of being a part of these services and being utilized by God in this way.

And here’s why I say it like that: as much as it is me standing before various groups of people, I honestly do not feel like I am the one speaking. I am consistently amazed at how many times a person comes up to me after a funeral or a run of the mill worship service and thank for saying such and such. And I thank them, but after they walk away I have to shake my head because I honestly do not recall saying what they said. I’m not saying I didn’t, but I don’t remember the specific words or the particular turn of phrase. I remember how it feels, but I don’t remember what I say. (So if you ever see me after a service looking rather confused (and I do mean beyond the way that I normally look confused) I probably trying to figure out what was said through me.)

I can honestly say that if it were up to me, I would not be standing before any congregation. I’m one of those introverts who feels much more comfortable disappearing into the shadows along the wall.

And yet, for reasons known only to God (and maybe my wife) I’m able to stand up here almost every week and (hopefully) allow the love, grace, and peace of God to flow through me.

Cornelius looked to Peter and asked him to proclaim the word that had been put upon his heart and he stepped forward, an individual transformed by a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, who can now stand up and speak, when but a short time earlier he was lying in order to protect himself. I understand what Peter felt as I stand before you and preach today. And I know that many of you have felt God move in your life in a similar way, when you have felt called to say or do something that simple was not you. And yet, after the fact, it was absolutely what needed to be said; it was absolutely what needed to be done.

I am here this morning to say don’t deny that feeling, that internal tug to say or do something that might be outside your comfort zone. Don’t deny it. It’s God, trying to work through you to say something that someone desperately needs to hear, or do something for someone that desperately needs it to be done. Don’t deny it: embrace it, for as you do, you will begin to lead others to God. It happened with Peter: it can happen with you. Trust in that tug and allow yourself to move beyond your comfort zone.

Holy and gracious Lord, You have called us to lead, and yet we feel so woefully inadequate. We feel like there is no way that we might be able to serve in such ways. And yet, as we have seen through Peter, You are able to work through us to transform who we are into who You need us to be. Help us to trust in Your timing, the tug of Your Holy Spirit, and the knowledge that with You we will be able to thrive even beyond our comfort zone. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.