The Mission: Obey God (Part 1)
Acts: The Mission of the Church • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 16 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Titling this morning’s message was rather challenging because several themes appear over the course of the passage. We will see themes of hospitality, worship, unity, willingness to share the Gospel, and sensitivity to the Spirit and the lack thereof. Whenever we read and study Scripture though we should always ask the questions, “Who is God?” and “Why does that matter?”
The events in Acts 10 take place over the course of four days. Sometimes when we read Scripture, one event piles on top of another and we forget that Biblical events took place in a literal 24 hour time period.
I think if we consider the literal 24 hour time period we will have better appreciation of the text and perhaps better understand the historical characters we find there including Peter and Cornelius. Also when we consider these events over a literal 24 hour day, God’s mercy, and forebearance jump out of the pages.
Let’s start with Day One where we are introduced to Cornelius and his vision.
Day 1 (10:1-8)
Day 1 (10:1-8)
Cornelius had a vision. (10:1-6)
Lets read the first two verses...
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.
Here we learn several things about Cornelius. He lived in Caesarea and was a man who had power. As a centurion, he would have been in command of 80 soldiers. Centurions were the backbone of the Roman Army because they were professional soldiers who usually became wealthy and influential. Cornelius was a Gentile and there is no doubt about it from several clues throughout Acts 10. This “Italian Cohort” was a group of soldiers, likely an archery regiment, who were all recruited from Italy and were on duty in Caesarea.
Our text tells us several important things about his character. God used Cornelius’ deployment to bring him to a loving knowledge and fear of God some time prior to Acts 10. He was a devout man who had, over a period of time developed spiritual disciplines of prayer and generosity. It is not often when a powerful man can be called a good man, but Cornelius was such a man because He loved God.
Then at about the 9th hour he had a clear vision. The 9th hour for the Jews would have been 3pm. That was the hour of prayer and the hour, the time that evening sacrifices began at the temple, and also the same time Jesus was crucified. I don’t think it was any coincidence that Cornelius, a man of prayer, saw a clear vision during the publicly observed “hour of prayer!” If you look at verse 3, this was a clear vision. This vision was not a dream. It was not a drunken stupor. All his faculties and senses were fully functioning. Let’s pick up our reading here in verse 3...
Acts 10:3–6 (ESV)
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.”
Note Cornelius’ clear responses. Something miraculous was occurring and he was terrified! This was no chance encounter, but because Cornelius was a friend of God he was not in danger. Instead, the angel bore good news! The angel comforted Cornelius by first telling him that his alms were approved by God. Note that the angel made no mention of faith nor prayer. The angel simply noted that Cornelius’ had been making sweet-smelling sacrifices before God. Because he feared God, Cornelius had been charitable, generous, and compassionate toward others. Faith changed the way he lived and that was what God was recognized. The angel was on a friendly mission. God wanted Cornelius to send for Simon Peter who had been lodging in Joppa.
As a side note, we will often see the apostles living as Jesus did on their missionary journeys. When they traveled, they were often recieved by a Christian in the community and provided housing. This is off topic a bit, but I think we need to really consider what hospitality encompasses.
Look at how Cornelius responded to God’s message in verses 7-8. On day on one...
Two servants and a soldier began travelling to Joppa. (v7-8)
Look at his immediate obedience in verse 7? Cornelius wasted no time. As soon as the angel departed he called two soldiers and a devout soldier. Why a “devout” soldier? I think this heavenly mission was far too important to risk any chance of delay by thugs, local authorities, or any other such things. It is also possible that this soldier was also spiritually devout: one whom had the same passion for God that Cornelius himself had. At any rate Cornelius didn’t just send them to get Peter, verse 8 tells us he told them everything: the angel, the message, the mission, everything! Why? I think first that Cornelius used this as an opportunity to share his passion for God and second, he didn’t want to take chances. These people needed to know their task was of utmost importance and urgency. These people needed to faithfully complete this task.
This brings us to day 2. Let’s pick up our reading in verse 9.
Day 2 (10:9-23)
Day 2 (10:9-23)
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
While these men were still travelling to Joppa Peter had a vision at about the 6th hour of the day, about noon.
Peter had a Vision (10:9-16)
Simon’s house was by the sea, so Peter probably had a very scenic view. It seems I have something in common with Peter. Some of the most memorable time I have spent in prayer has been by the water. During camping trips I love finding a large rock next to the water to focus in prayer while looking at God’s beautiful creation. This detail is important. Peter was not napping, nor would he have been able to nap. His mind was active and his stomach was hungry. He was not asleep when this vision appeared. He was very much awake, evidence that God really did send a message to him. Also, the timing of the vision is important. Peter was hungry and this vision was about food! In verse 11...
Acts 10:11–16 (ESV)
11 (Peter) 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.
In this vision, God commanded Peter to kill and eat whatever meat he desired from all that God had created. No fish were presented in this vision because fish were considered clean or kosher food. God was abolishing the notion of kosher food but Peter struggled to accept God’s will and God’s command. “By no means Lord!” was his response. I envision Peter crossing his arms, firmly planting his body, and as many children have done to me said, “You can’t make me!” For the last few thousand years the Jews ate differently than then Gentiles by God’s command. It was a way of showing that God’s people were different than all the other nations.
Peter was still bigoted. No matter what God said, he was not willing at that moment to consider God’s new command. So God sharply rebuked Peter. If we look at the order of things and the placement of verse 16 not only did this vision occur three times but Peter who had lived alongside Christ had the gall to say “absolutely not!” to God three times. How many times did the Gentile, Cornelius need to be instructed by God? Once! How many times did Cornelius’ servants need to be told their errand? Once!
Peter didn’t yet understand the reprimand or the significance of what God had revealed, but by God’s grace he would understand the mystery 2 days later. Picking up the narrative again in verse 17...
17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 “But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Peter had been lodging in Joppa, about 38 miles south of Caesarea. Cornelius’ servants left some time after 3pm the previous day and arrived at Simon’s house by the sea a little after noon that second day. Peter was still contemplating this vision. “What did it mean?” “Am I willing to obey God even in this?” The Holy Spirit knew what Peter was wrestling with and I can only conclude that if the Spirit did not intervene, Peter would have failed his mission. We see in verse 19 that the Spirit said, “Behold three men are looking for you, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them myself.”
To his credit, Peter obeyed the Spirit’s command for he likely would have passed up the opportunity, but verse 20 marks the fourth time he needed to be prompted to do the God-honoring thing. Let’s return to our text...
21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Peter finally accepted God’s will. He stopped fighting and decided that maybe he really didn’t know everything. Maybe God actually knew what He was talking about. Maybe Peter, for the Godly things he had been doing was still human and still overcoming personal sin and doubts. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together God was doing something bigger than just working in Peter’s life so he did something out of character and unusual...
Peter invited Gentile guests to stay overnight (v23)
Jews rarely ate meals with Gentiles. Their food palette was completely different and they couldn’t eat things that had been prepared in an unclean manner nor made with unclean ingredients. The Holy Spirit had to prompt Peter to accompany Cornelius’ servants, which also meant Peter needed to be hospitable to those he believed were common and unclean people. If we skip ahead to verse 28, Peter verbally acknowledged his struggle. Jewish laws forbade associating with or visiting with a Gentile, yet the Spirit strictly charged him to break this man-made law. Peter certainly knew that certain few Gentiles had converted to Christianity. We have examples of the Ethiopian eunuch, the Samaritans, and even Rahab and Ruth in Jesus’ own lineage.
Peter’s struggle and confusion was because God was preparing Gentiles for salvation en-masse. As Nate mentioned last week from...
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Peter didn’t get it, nor trust God’s great plan nor His infinite wisdom, but he was learning some incredible truths about God and next week we will read how he publicly testified as to what he had been learning. As for us, I think we too should answer the question,
Who Is God?
Who Is God?
We can learn two truths from this morning’s passage.
Peter’s doubts, questions, & struggles brought to mind a scene from the Wizard of OZ.
Dorothy and her companions had embarked on a significant, challenging, and frightening journey to seek an audience with the Great Wizard of Oz. They spent much time preparing for this significant meeting and one day, they finally entered the throne room behold the great and frightening Wizard of Oz. The great wizard’s fierce voice, others sounds, and odd facade was quite frightening, but Toto, Dorothy’s dog, knew things were not quite as they seemed. He bit the corner of the curtain and pulled it back revealing a man furiously pulling levers.
God’s great plan of salvation, the full ramifications of salvation, the Gentile church, end times, everything was hidden behind that curtain but He, like Toto, pulled back the curtain to reveal the great things hidden behind it.
The different between the movie and God’s revelation is that the curtain wasn’t pulled back so quickly. Jesus own disciples and Israel as a whole were not prepared to able to yet understand such great wonders. Next week we will delve into the mystery of the church a bit more and we will learn that Gentile salvation was an issue for the church for at least the next couple of decades. Paul’s writings address Jewish believers who struggled with this issue. So God, as the church developed, seemed to have been tugging the curtain open bit by bit. Behind that curtain contained the massive impact God’s plan of salvation was going to have on the entire world. Salvation would be available to the entire world! Billions of people had access to the same Gospel message that, comparatively speaking, only a handful of people up to this point had access to!
God is in control. Obey Him!
Trust Him. (Trust fall?) This is God’s creation, God’s plan. God isn’t going to mess it up. We already did that!
I found great irony in Peter’s responses to God in this morning’s text, for it was him who declared in...
Acts 5:29 (NASB95)
“We must obey God rather than men.
Sometimes it was easy for Peter to obey God. For example, when the Sanhedrin ordered him to stop preaching, that was a no brainer. “We must obey God rather than men.”
Sometimes obeying God is easy for us, but there are times when we all cross our arms, take up our stance and tell God, “Absolutely not. God, I am not going to do it!” Peter responded to God with Jonah’s attitude. Peter also refused to take the Gospel to the Gentiles just like Jonah did. Obeying God by associating with Gentiles? Obeying God by breaking the law of human authorities? Obeying God by abandoning a several thousand year diet? This was very hard for him! He didn’t want to do it!
Peter was a human who wrestled with sin just like all of us. God’s people all wrestle with Jonah attitudes at some point in life. This text caused me to evaluate my life. Have I been wrestling with God about something?
Have you been wrestling with God about something?
We learned from this passage that God is in control. If God wants something to be accomplished, He will bring whatever forces to bear upon us and bend us to His will. Have you been wrestling God? It is far better for us and God’s kingdom when we obey God immediately as did Cornelius.
God’s people should be the most sensitive to God’s will and leading. It is to our shame that unbelieving people and then new converts respond quicker God’s call than those who have been with Christ for a longer period of time.
God’s people risk massive blessings when they fight God’s will and God’s control. Peter forgot God gets to call the shots and so he did not submit the first time or second time and if had not submitted the third or fourth times, or if God relented and let Peter have his way, Millions, perhaps billions of Gentiles across the past 2,000 years would not have become Christians! If Peter had resisted the Spirit’s urging in verse 19, we would not be here today!
We have studied the importance of living in the Spirit in the previous 9 chapters because the consequences of living apart from the Spirit have horrible consequences. When we fail to obey God, or His Spirit, What opportunities might we have given up? What grief may we have caused God in our unbelief? What harm might have come to God’s kingdom? We must guard ourselves from Jonah’s attitude.
Peter was to be the foundation of the church, not another. It was prophesied. God could not have relented nor chosen another. Jesus told Peter...
Matthew 16:18 (NASB95)
18 “...you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
God is to be obeyed and we know, we know! that His plan always has the best results, be we still refuse to do what He says is right and good. It is important for us then to also know that...
God is abundant in mercy. Thank Him!
Paul, a Gentile, absolutely appreciated God’s great mercy toward the populous Gentile nations. Other Jews missed the OT prophecies, but God had pre-determined Gentile salvation en-masse. Please turn to Romans 15:7-12. In this passage Paul cited 6 Old Testament references proving God’s mercy toward the Gentiles…
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
How often do you think about and praise God for his mercy? Do you view yourself as a person who needs God’s great mercy or do you view yourself as a person who is good enough to get by on your own?
Cornelius was grateful and excited about God’s great mercy toward him! Peter seems to have been stingy and unappreciative of God’s great mercy. He told God “No” and he didn’t yet appreciate God’s mercy toward the Gentiles.
Scripture is clear, none of us would have any hope of salvation nor any chance of a joyous life apart from God’s GREAT MERCY! That is worthy of much thankfulness.
God’s mercy is impartial!
He is no respecter of persons. The outside doesn’t matter. Skin color, hair color, denomination, country of origin, status in life, none of that matters. Paul tells us in Romans the only thing that matters is that that we circumcised in our hearts. There is only one difference, only two types of people, those who are God’s children and those who are not God’s children. No other difference matters. Next week we will read that God abolished segregation. His mercy applies toward all people. His mercy is overwhelming and applies to all sins, in our minds, whether great or small.
Let our knowledge of God drive us to worship Him and live for Him as He deserves. Cornelius while still an unsaved Gentile was...
2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.
Our unsaved neighbors should not be outdoing our good works. Our unsaved neighbors should not be known for being more generous than us. We are commanded in Romans to try to outdo each other in goodness and generosity and also with humility and all love.
Let us examine ourselves this week, consider our relationship with God and continually strive to obey God in all things.