A CHANGE IN HOUSE RULES
Acts 10:19-33
There are two main characters in this text; Cornelius and
Peter.
Acts 10:1-2
V:1-2. "Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the
Italian Regiment,
2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his
household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. "
NKJV
The quality of Cornelius
1. He was a godly
man
2. He feared God
3. He taught his
household to fear God
4. He had an active
prayer life
5. He was generous.
He gave to the poor
6. He was a positive
role model for his family and friends.
His credentials
1. He was a Roman
Soldier
2. He was a
Gentile
3. He was more
religious than most Jews
4. He was an
unusual man, because the Romans believed
in idol gods .
5. Cornelius
claimed none other than the true living God as his God.
Some
key points
1.
God is no respecter of person
2. God
knows your character
3.
God rewards those who are faithful
4.
God hears your prayers
5.
You can expected the unexpected from God.
Peter
the Apostle.
1. God has a job for those He calls.
2.
For you to minister to someone else, you have get rid of your problems
and hang-ups.
3.
Peter by his heritage and training was what we would call today a racist.
He was trained under the Law which forbade
the Jews from
associating with foreign nations primarily
because of their worship of
idol Gods.
Lev 18:24 -30, Due 7:3-12
A
CHANGE IN HOUSE RULES
God
put Peter in a trance to visualize to him the change in the dispensation of the
Law to the dispensation of Grace.
Peter
saw a sheet coming down from heaven full of four footed animals and creepy
things.
God
told Peter to arise and eat. But Peter said I have never ate anything unclean
and
was not about start.
But
God responded, what I make clean is clean.. God used this demonstration to
show
Peter the end of the age of the Law and the restriction against fellowshipping
with
people of foreign nation had been lifted.
Belief
in the blood of Jesus under Grace is what make a person clean.
Not
the sacrifice of animals by earthly priest, but the sacrifice of our spiritual
priest
, Jesus Christ, is what makes a man clean.
GOD'S DIRECTIONS IN YOU LIFE COMES FROM BIBLE STUDY
V:19. "While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit
said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you.
20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting
nothing; for I have sent them."
A. It is the work of the
Holy Spirit that give you an understanding of the Word.
1. Understanding
of the Word of God is activated by your personal meditation
of the Word
guided by the Holy Spirit.
2. God will
prepare your heart to receive those He wants you to proclaim the Word.
3. God will
prepare the hearts of unbelievers to receive His Word from you.
B. When God make plain His mission to you, don't doubt that
it is for you.
1. When unbelievers
know that you love the Lord, they will come seeking
you.
2. We ought to live
our lives so that we are the lamp of God that others are drawn to.
SERVICE REQUIRES OBEDIENCE
V:21 "Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent
to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what
reason have you come?"
22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man,
one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews,
was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear
words from you."
A. When God gives you directions, He will confirm His Word
from a different source.
1. Since the Jews
were under Roman authority, Cornelius could summon Peter
to his home.
2. Cornelius men identified him as one who
loved the Lord and was a friend of
the Jews.
3. Cornelius men
identified the summon as being from the Lord.
B. The Cornelius men identified Peter's mission was to
proclaim the Word
of God to
Cornelius.
1. God will
confirm His mission to you.
2. God will open doors for your mission to
be successful.
BE KIND TO STRANGERS
V:23. " Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the
next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied
him.
Peter Meets Cornelius 24 And the following day they entered Caesarea .
Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and
close friends.
A. When God send some one to you, make them welcome in your
mist.
1. If we are
agreeable to the Word of God, we will be agreeable to those He
sends to us.
2. Be kind to
strangers , because you never know when you are entertaining
an angel.
B. Peter went to preach to Cornelius, but God bless the
mission with
with Cornelius
family and friends.
1. God's call requires an immediate response.
2. Here, I am
Lord, send me.
3. To work for the
Lord requires :
a. A
willingness to serve.
b. Making
yourself available to serve.
c. Making a
commitment to serve.
C. To serve God you have to go where the mission leads you.
WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
V:25. " As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and
fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself
am also a man."
A. Preachers and teachers need to understand that we are not
to be worshipped.
1. Our position in
Christ does not make us better than others.
2. We are all
equal in the sight of the Lord.
B. God broke down the racial barrier in Peter's heart.
1. God instituted the New age of Grace in the
blood of Jesus.
2. Jesus with His
death on the cross, ratified a New Covenant in
His blood.
3. Peter was
instructed to operate not under the Law, but under Grace.
CHURCH STARTS WHEN YOU SHOW UP
V:27. " And as he talked with him, he went in and found
many who had come together.
28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is
for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God
has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent
for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?"
A. God's Grace is more powerful than the Law.
1. All the
requirements of the Law were fulfilled with Jesus death and resurrection.
2. The Law was a
tutor until Grace came.
B. It is the Lord that changes your heart so you can
minister to others.
1. It is the Word
of God that convicts us of our short comings.
2. We were all
born in sin and shaped in iniquity..
3. We cannot judge
others because we have not been judged.
YOUR TESTIMONY IS IMPORTANT
V:30. " So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this
hour; and at the ninth hour i prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood
before me in bright clothing,
31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and
your alms are remembered in the sight of God.
A. No one can tell your story like you.
1. Everyone has a
time when God called you to Himself.
2. Everyone's
testimony is different.
3. Everyone's
testimony is important.
B. Cornelius had a had an active prayer life, so his
testimony was based on his love
for God.
1. He got a message
of his acceptance from God during his prayer time.
2. His fasting
indicates devotion and sacrifice for God.
OBEDIENCE LEADS TO UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS
V:32. " Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here,
whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the
sea. When he comes, he will speak to you."
33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to
come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things
commanded you by God."
Preaching to Cornelius'
A. The heart of Cornelius was prepared to receive a Word
from Peter before
Peter was given
the mission.
1. God's draws us
to himself.
2. No one can
come to Christ unless the Father draws them.
3. We can make
plans, but it is God who causes the increase.
B. We should follow
God directions, expecting the unexpected.
1. According to the word from the angel,
Cornelius knew he
would we
receive a word from the Lord through Peter.
2. He had no idea
that he would receive the gift of
eternal life.
3. He had no idea
that he and his family and friends would have a
friend in
Jesus.
4. He had no idea
that he and his family and friends would receive
the gift of
the Holy Spirit.
5. God can do
exceeding abundantly more than you can ask or conceive.
THANK GOD FOR THE
UNEXPECTED
Rev Melvin Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
For more lessons, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs,
www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitch.blogspot.com
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