Peter are you ready for what is next. Peter is not ready for what is next and God is going to have to make him ready for his next ministry adventure.

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1 Peter are you ready for what is next. Peter is not ready for what is next and God is going to have to make him ready for his next ministry adventure. We need to ask ourselves are we listening to God, am I open, and am I moldable, so that God can prepare me for what is next in my life and where he wants to use me. Is there something blocking me from being teachable, too busy, too proud, hardness of heart. God wants to use you - no one is saved to be put on the shelf. God needs to work in us and on us before he can work through us. God always wants to take you deeper and farther then you have ever been. Acts 9 closes with 43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. God directs and prepares each of us to be His instruments in His time to accomplish His plan for reaching a lost and broken world! You and I can NEVER know by human deduction and human wisdom what great things God might want to do through us. It is by yielding ourselves to the person and work of the Holy Spirit (wherever we might be) that we become available to God for the things that He wants to accomplish. And in that we find our lives primed for our next marching orders. 1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, Caesarea = roman capital city of Israel - sea side Legion = 6000 = 10 cohorts of 600 men = 60 centuries (100 men) Italian Cohorts - volunteers - loyalists to Rome - from the home land 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. Turned from idols - to God of the Jews - looking for salvation - got as close to Judaism as possible without becoming a Jew - Cornelius was a good religious person, accomplished but still not be saved. Cornelius was sincere in his obedience to God s Law, his fasting, his generosity and his prayer life. He was a model of religious respectability and yet he was not a saved man. FALSE SECURITY based upon their belief that their character, coupled with their good works and involvement in church will get them into heaven. They have no concept of their NEED for salvation. Cornelius had come to know that his religiosity could not save Him because all of his religious efforts and good works had not been able to bring him into the living relationship with God that he yearned for. 1 of 6

2 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, Cornelius! 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, lord? So he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do. 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. We build you up in your relationship with Jesus and equip you to serve Jesus in your world (where you live, go to school, work, shop and hang out). It s your responsibility to be open to God as He prepares you to go and to speak. It s your responsibility to respond when He begins to move you. Men not Angels preach the Gospel - the FRAILTY of the messenger proves that it is the GOSPEL that is the power of God unto salvation. - The frailty of the messenger assures that all of the glory goes to God. There is a Cornelius out there that God is preparing to receive the Gospel; and He is preparing YOU to be Peter. 9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. Peter prays regularly. - noon -Peter needs CR - he s got a hang up, that God needs to release Proper perspective: both Jew and Gentile were unclean before God! - not Jew clean, gentile not Romans 11:32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. This meant that a Gentile did not have to become a Jew in order to become a Christian. God wanted Peter to know that the Gospel is not just for Jews. It is for ALL men For all those who call upon the name of the Lord. Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 2 of 6

3 God will work in your heart all the grace you need to preach the Gospel to the most unlikely person in your world. God was moving Peter a step at a time from Jewish legalism into clear view of the profound nature of God s grace 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean. QUOTE: Graham Scroggie You can say NO and you can say LORD but you cannot say NO LORD. Lord implies YES. It is a master servant relationship. 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, What God has cleansed you must not call common. 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. The instructions of God NEEDED to be repeated 3x. Get through so Peter will preach. 17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon s house, and stood before the gate. Peter is on the roof scratching his head as to what that scroll was all about and the answer to his questions is literally at the door 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. 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. It was while Peter was thinking upon what God had spoken to him that God gave to him the answer. Worship that is genuine and vertical demands that the heart, soul, mind and strength of man be engaged in contemplating His infinite worth and expressing to God the adoration and worship He is infinitely worthy of receiving. Bible study that is meaningful and profitable demands a ready mind and an open heart that is going to think on those things they are hearing while gathered. God was moving! God the Holy Spirit acted personally in sending them! The meeting that was about to take place downstairs was a divine appointment. The Holy Spirit had directed Cornelius by way of a vision to send these men. The Holy Spirit was the active agent in Peter s vision and now He personally directs Peter s response to their request before he even hears it! Authentic Mission is Spirit led Spirit directed! The Book of Acts is the divinely inspired record of the activity of the Holy Spirit in and through the Authentic Church. It is not a story of man making plans and man working. It is the account of Authentic Christians who were led on mission and empowered for mission by the Holy Spirit. We must never be content with anything else, anything less, anything more than that! 3 of 6

4 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. 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren (6 jewish believers) from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 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 powerful Roman bowing to a Jewish fisherman an act of radical humility. Hearts that would seek God and find Him must be humble because God resists the proud. (Matthew 5:3). Peter refused to receive the glory that belongs to God. Hearts that would be used by God must be HUMBLE hearts. 2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (KJV) 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? 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. Collision - revelation - embrace Authentic Christian life begins with God engaging the heart of a man or woman in a way that grips them; draws them; moves them to seek Him! You can walk into a church not looking for God and He stuns you by how real He is. That is God engaging you but it s your responsibility to respond! Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. We are often so afraid that in seeking God we will miss out on the pleasures of this life. In reality we miss out on life miss out on so much JOY by seeking other things before God. Psalm 16:8-9; 11 I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure of 6

5 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 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. He came as one SENT from God with a message and he delivered the goods. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NLT So we are Christ s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, Come back to God! 21For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. The Gospel is God beseeching man to be reconciled to God. God wants man to hear his message. He has a passion for man to hear it and respond. When we are being led by the Spirit into deeper union with Jesus we are drawn into His passion! 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. God prepared Peter for this moment by way of a vision that he had on the rooftop of Simon the Tanner in Joppa. Before the conversion of Cornelius there needed to be a conversion (if-you-would) in the heart of Peter. God had always planned to provide salvation for all of humanity. QUOTE: John Stott "The principal subject of this chapter is not so much the conversion of Cornelius as the conversion of Peter." REMEMBER the Christian life begins at the moment of conversion The saving of a soul is the miracle of a moment but the making of a man of God is the work of a lifetime. (Redpath) That work that begins the moment you believe with your heart on the Lord Jesus. It is a continual process of being transformed being conformed to the image of Jesus. That work is faithfully continued by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit until the moment we meet Jesus face to face 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ He is Lord of all 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who 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 things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they[fn] killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us 5 of 6

6 who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. Peter didn't have one sermon for the Jews and another for the Gentiles. He didn't have one sermon for one group and another sermon for another. There isn t one message for the religious person and one for the irreligious. There isn't one message for the person abusing drugs or alcohol and another for those who don t drink or get high. EVERYONE needs to be saved by coming to a living faith in a living Jesus Christ. He presents the person and work of Jesus Christ, with an emphasis on the resurrection of Jesus and our responsibility before God in light of these things. Remission - Forgiveness = release from bondage or imprisonment forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. No altar call - collision, revelation, embrace The grace of God is so much greater than the grace of man. There are those that we think are BEYOND saving. In the next chapter the believers in Jerusalem will be looking back on this event and Peter would say Acts 11: If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God s way? 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life. God wants to use you to be with you, teach you, nourish you, train you, thrive, flourish, joy of salvation - Think of how far peter has come - still not ready for what was next - we re not always ready - God had to work on Peter before working through Pete. lifelong learners, disciples, extremely hard to unlearn, Lifelong is a constant process of GOd growing our character for the next mission. 6 of 6