Acts - Global Missions
Pastor:: Jason Allen
Scripture: Acts 10:1-48
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,
2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius."
4 And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea."
7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,
8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.Peter's Vision
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.
12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
15 And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."
16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate
18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.
20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them."
21 And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"
22 And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say."
23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.
28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."
30 And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing
31 and said, 'Cornelius, your Prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'
33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."Gentiles Hear the Good News
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I 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 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,
40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,
41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
47 "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.Acts-10#v2Acts-10#v3Acts-10#v4Acts-10#v5Acts-10#v6Acts-10#v7Acts-10#v8Acts-10#v9Acts-10#v10Acts-10#v11Acts-10#v12Acts-10#v13Acts-10#v14Acts-10#v15Acts-10#v16Acts-10#v17Acts-10#v18Acts-10#v19Acts-10#v20Acts-10#v21Acts-10#v22Acts-10#v23Acts-10#v24Acts-10#v25Acts-10#v26Acts-10#v27Acts-10#v28Acts-10#v29Acts-10#v30Acts-10#v31Acts-10#v32Acts-10#v33Acts-10#v34Acts-10#v35Acts-10#v36Acts-10#v37Acts-10#v38Acts-10#v39Acts-10#v40Acts-10#v41Acts-10#v42Acts-10#v43Acts-10#v44Acts-10#v45Acts-10#v46Acts-10#v47Acts-10#v48
Introduction:
- What do my new rhythms look like as we enter into a new season for Jesus
- Mission of God; local and ambitious
BIG IDEA: The Mission of Jesus is God’s Initiative
Point 1: Salvation is God’s initiative
- God takes initiative with both the religious and irreligious
- We all need a renovation of the heart
- Religious activity is not enough
- We need the Gospel
- None of us would sell after God if He didn’t first sell after us
- Everything is not immediately fixed when we come to know God, we need him to take initiative with us too
- There is more going on than Simon’s dietary habits
- God is showing him that God does not show partiality
- As unbelievers, we need regenerate hearts
- As believers, we need renovation of heart
- There are things on our lives that Jesus wants to grow us in
- Simon had barriers to not go to people who were not like him
Point 2: Salvation comes through the Gospel word
- Cornelius has someone come to him and say your religious activity is not enough, you need to hear the Gospel, send god Peter
- Peter shared the Gospel word with Cornelius
- He shared Jesus’s life, death and resurrection and explains the implications
- Move from generic, abstract belief to very practical trust and life built in Jesus
- Stop trusting in our own knowledge and wisdom
- Disciples need the Gospel just as much as unbelievers!
- Peter understand more clearly what God is up to after His vision
- Am I playing a part for God in my life? Is there anything or prejudice that is keeping me from sharing God
- Fear or insecurity?
- What you think on affects how you live
Point 3: Salvation and mission come by the work of the Spirit
- The Sprit came to all who heard the Word
- The Sprit is the one that saves and transforms
- What is pain and clear? They are changed when they hear the word and receive the Spirit
- The mission of Jesus is not about me! It’s about the power of the Spirit working through the Gospel message
- Be faithful to engage in the work of the Lord leaving the results to God - that is His job description
- Acts 11.15
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. - The Gospel Word isn’t just for Jews, it’s for everyone
Conclusion:
- What does this look like for us today?
- Start thinning about the Gospel Word and messaging that we are taking in
- We were not intending to walk through this journey on our own, we were intended to walk with friends
- Our hearts are disordered, we need a renovation of heart
- Where is God sending me? He is sending me somewhere.
- This could be across the globe or across the street
- This week, all the Lord to give us three names of people that do not know the Lord that I can pray for them daily this year
- He does this in this passage to rescue Cornelius