Fresh Vision and Power for Mission

9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” 14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” 15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. 17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. 19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

INTRODUCTION:

In the previous two messages in this series, we have taken a look at the importance of renewed spiritual vision to the life of the believer.

The First message, from Proverbs 29:18, stressed the importance of renewed spiritual vision types of lacking spiritual vision. When the child of God lacks spiritual vision, he or she becomes bound to the physical senses, Appetites and desires; thought processes and reasoning become dominated by faulty human wisdom. When a church is filled with and led by people with lack of vision, she becomes stunted in her endeavors to fulfill the mission of Christ.

Last Sunday evening’s message took an in-depth look at one of the most energizing visions in Scripture. Isaiah’s vision in the temple (Isaiah 6) provided a structure for the type of vision needed by every believer and every church. Isaiah had upward vision of God in all his glory, majesty, and power. He had an inward vision of his own sinfulness and need of cleansing. He had an outward vision of the tremendous need of his people – coupled with the call of God to go to those people with God’s message.

Tonight, going to take a look at a vision given in the New Testament. Please open your Bibles to the book of Acts, chapter 10. Our primary text for this evening’s message will be verses 9 through 20.

TS: if you and I are to receive a renewed vision of God’s will and purpose for our lives that will lead to renewed power to carry out Christ’s mission, we must be willing to make the following commitments personally and corporately.

I- SPEND TIME WITH GOD, SEEKING A FRESH VISION FOR CARRYING OUT HIS MISSION. (Acts 10:9 – 10a)

A- Recognize that it is not wise to fixate in the success of past ministry.

1- Past successes are great testimonies to past obedience and the fact that God honored it.

a- The first ten chapters of Acts are filled with instances of the early church’s obedience to God and the resulting successful ministry.

b- Peter was involved in the obedience and successes of the church.

c- In chapter 9, Peter had been used by God to bring a great move of God to the towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa. (Acts 9:32-43)

Acts 9:32–43 NLT

32 Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord. 36 There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. 37 About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. 38 But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!” 39 So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. 40 But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive. 42 The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.

2- Past successes are dangerous if we allow them to become our focus, instead of encouragements to seek and follow Jesus today.

a- We can never fixate on what we did in years gone by, or we will miss what God wants to do through us now.

B- Seriously seek God for direction and a renewed spiritual vision for the present.

1- God is already at work to extend His mission in the world and in our pathway.

a- God had already been at work with Cornelius and his family (and people under his influence). (Acts 10:1-8)

2- Since we do not already know exactly what God wants us to do next, we must seek a renewed vision and direction from him.

a- Peter was serious enough about seeking the Lord’s direction and renewed vision that he spent time in focused prayer (Acts 10:9-10a)

II- SURRENDER TO GOD AND THE PATHWAY OF RADICAL OBEDIENCE. (Acts 10:10b-20)

A- Adopt an attitude of surrender. (Acts 10:9-10)

Acts 10:9–10 NLT

1- The Lord call upon us to live in a mindset of predetermined obedience to the Holy Spirit. (Romans 12:1-2).

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2- Loving Him is evidenced through obedience.

(John 14:15)

John 14:15 NLT

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.

B- Place yourself in a position to receive a fresh vision and new directions from the Lord. (Acts 10:9-10)

Acts 10:9–10 NLT

1- This begins with making our relationship with Christ top priority in our lives.

2- This necessitates living in an attitude of prayer. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT

17 Never stop praying.

3- Seeking his will in every area of life must be an uncompromisable principle. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

C- Do not dismiss directions simply because they seem radical or outside of everyday norms. (Acts 10:11-15)

Acts 10:11–15 NLT

11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” 14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” 15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”

1- Our decisions must never be governed by man-made rules and guidelines, but by the leadership of God.

a- The Jewish refusal cited by Peter was a man-made rule.

b- What is more important: Following man’s rules or obeying God’s Spirit? (Answer is a No-brainer!)

2- Our decisions are not to be determined by our comfort zone, but by the advancement of Christ’s mission.

a- It is more important to advance Christ’s mission to seek and save the lost than for me to live in my comfort zone!

D- Remain open for the clear direction of the Holy Spirit in applying and employing His fresh vision and directions. (Acts 10:16-20)

Acts 10:16–20 NLT

16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. 17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. 19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

1- While pondering the question of application is necessary, we need to also be watching and listening for Him to make his directions clear.

E- Move without hesitation in surrender to God and the pathway of radical obedience.(Acts 10:21-33) (Focus : Acts 10:21-23, 28-29, 33)

Acts 10:21–23 NLT

21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?” 22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

Acts 10:28–29 NLT

28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”

Acts 10:33 NLT

33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”

1- When God makes his directions known to you, delays in obedience are not an option!

a- Delayed or partial obedience is disobedience.

b- Delayed obedience may have serious consequences!

F- Experience the remarkable power of God working through you. )Acts 10:34-48) (Focus: Acts 10:34-36, 42-44)

Acts 10:34–36 NLT

34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Acts 10:42–44 NLT

42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” 44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.