Shifting Perspective
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 54 viewsNotes
Transcript
Subjecting to the Holy Spirit (Shifting Perspective)
Subjecting to the Holy Spirit (Shifting Perspective)
DT: When we are responsive to the Holy Spirit we will accomplish the will of God according to God’s plan.
AIM: We will discern the Holy Spirit and obey
Introduction: I really want to do more and be more in the work of God. No, I’m not looking for fame and prestige. I just want to make God happy. There are a few thingsI have learned about this yearning I have.
1. I must be willing to leave my comfort zone
2. I cannot move without subjecting myself to the Holy Spirit
3. I must always give God the glory
Transition: This passage today powerfully exemplifies how all of us can operate under the authority of the Holy Spirit and please God. There are three ways we can subject to the Holy Spirit’s authority to do God’s will.
We Must Obey to the Commands of the Holy Spirit
Explanation: Both Cornelius and Peter love God. They are both men of prayer and they both desire to please God. They are different though in other ways:
Cornelius -Roman Citizen
Peter - Jewish Disciple
They are both being commanded to do something more for the Kingdom. They were both racially and socially connected to their communities. Cornelius and Peter are chosen to bridge relationships. They do not know it but God does.
God has a knack for using people from different places in life to do great things together. See what if Cornelius had just ignored God? What if Peter had continued to resist? Think of the lives that would have been affected adversely had either of these men failed to obey the Holy Spirit.
Illustration: When I served in the military I learned the importance of obedience. We were taught that our willingness to follow commands not only saved our lives but our fellow soldiers lives.
Transition: So it is in the Kingdom of God. When we obey the commands of the Holy Spirit we are empowered to do more for the Kingdom.
Application: You may be doing all the right things where you are in life, but who is God calling you to connect with so that you can do more?
We Must Heed to the Conviction of the Holy Spirit
Explanation: Peter like many of us really love God and desires God to be pleased. But there was an area in Peter’s life that he failed to address appropriately. Peter had some social and religious biases.
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.”
He rejected the food in the vision
He bound himself to the Jewish law and refused to associate with anyone who was not of the Jewish nation.
The voice charges Peter: “What God has made clean do not call common
Peter realized that God was calling for him to change his heart regarding other people.
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.
Illustration: I remember growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana. I was in high school this was the mid eighties. During this time I said to my dad, “You know what segregation still exists” he said, “Why do you say that, son?” I said well because there is a white side of the cafeteria and a black side. There is a white line and a black line. My dad said, “nope not segregation that is voluntary separation.” Here is what you do tomorrow, sit on the other side and order your food from the other line.
Transition: God was calling Peter to go against what was a social norm to come out of his comfort zone.
Application: You are working in a ministry and doing well there. You may be a super Christian, but what social biases or religious biases does God want you to overcome?
We Must Adhere to the Charge of the Holy Spirit
Peter is charged to preach the gospel to all. Peter is charged to preach to the gentile and the Jewish. God desires that all receive His gospel
The charge of every believer is to spread the Gospel!
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,