WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.280 Acts chapter 10 here this morning. We're going to look at the other part of Acts chapter 10. 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:11.480 ! You know, last week we looked at the salvation of Cornelius along with his friends and family 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:17.660 ! And how that God brought light to them as they desired and feared and desired for God 00:00:17.660 --> 00:00:27.600 to know Him and for God to do something in their life. You remember Cornelius was told by an angel 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:36.079 that God heard his prayer and he said, send for one Simon that's lodged in the house of the Tanner 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:44.859 there at Joppa. And he sends his men to go and he gets Peter that's there. But you know, 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:49.980 like many things in life, God doesn't just work singularly. 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:57.020 God was working in the lives of so many with Cornelius, with his friends and family that were 00:00:57.020 --> 00:01:02.859 ready to hear Peter, what ought they to do? How were they to respond? What were they supposed to do? 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:11.900 We find that as Cornelius was there, God was also working in Peter, in Peter's life. 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:19.719 Because there was a lot going on in Peter's life. Peter had been faithful to the Lord. Matter of fact, 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:28.760 the Bible tells us that he had been there in Joppa and had raised a woman from the dead. 00:01:29.700 --> 00:01:36.379 There were some miraculous things happening in Joppa that God was using Peter. And many believed 00:01:36.379 --> 00:01:41.359 and Peter was actively sharing, but there was still something else that he ought to do. 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:47.239 And so this morning as we take a look, if you found Acts chapter 10, let's look here at verse 9, 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:51.739 stand together in the honor of the reading of the word of God. And we'll read a few verses here. 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:57.319 And we won't read all the texts this morning, but we'll get to it here just for the sake of time. 00:01:57.459 --> 00:01:59.879 But notice down in verse 9, it says this, 00:01:59.959 --> 00:02:03.859 On the morrow, as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city, 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:11.060 Peter went up onto the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. And he became very hungry and would 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:17.740 have eaten, but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven open and a certain vessel 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:23.699 descending unto him as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to earth, 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:29.939 wherein all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:36.860 of the air. And there came a voice to him, rise, Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, not so, 00:02:36.860 --> 00:02:43.440 Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him 00:02:43.440 --> 00:02:50.880 again the second time, and God hath cleansed that to call not thou common. And this was done thrice, 00:02:50.920 --> 00:02:57.200 and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Let's pray. Heavenly Fathers, we come before you 00:02:57.200 --> 00:03:01.940 once again this morning, Lord. We're just thankful for your word. Lord, I pray that you would just help 00:03:01.939 --> 00:03:08.859 us to learn, even as Peter learned, Lord, that there's things that we need to pay attention to 00:03:08.859 --> 00:03:16.079 in your word, Lord, of what you've told us, what you've asked us to obey, things to trust you in. 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:20.780 And Lord, we pray that you'd just stir us today, Lord, that there's one here today that doesn't know 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:25.539 you as Savior. That might be settled. But Lord, for your people here today, Lord, that they might be 00:03:25.539 --> 00:03:32.719 encouraged to say, Lord, I'm willing to do what you say to do, not what I feel or what I've been taught 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:38.060 or what I've been brought up in. But Lord, I want to be obedient to you and to your word. And Lord, 00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:44.840 we just ask it all in your precious name. Amen. May be seated. You know, as we look at Peter here, 00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:50.979 you know, Peter had witnessed the salvation of thousands of Jews and Samaritans. But he still 00:03:50.979 --> 00:03:57.519 struggled with something very important because the apostles, especially Peter, had been hindered of 00:03:57.519 --> 00:04:04.379 going to the Gentiles. And there was a reason because Peter had something fixed in his head, 00:04:04.679 --> 00:04:12.219 even though Jesus had instructed him otherwise. What was fixed in his head interfered with what he was 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:18.139 supposed to do for God. You know, oftentimes I think we find ourselves in that same spot. There's 00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:25.300 things we've been taught or we think we understand. And we grab a hold of them. And then God brings to 00:04:25.300 --> 00:04:34.060 light things from his word. And we're Peter. Not so, Lord. You know, Peter oftentimes would do that. 00:04:36.039 --> 00:04:41.240 Peter was well known for being a little hard-headed. Because what does God do to get Peter's attention? 00:04:41.919 --> 00:04:47.279 The scripture tells us that there was a voice after the sheet was let down with all manner 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:55.159 of animals upon it. Now remember, Peter's hungry. You know, most guys, especially if you've learned to 00:04:55.159 --> 00:05:01.239 prepare and cook something of a game or other things, it's like, hey, you got something there 00:05:01.239 --> 00:05:08.819 and I'm hungry? Guess what? Something's going to become lunch. You know, let's just face it. You're 00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:15.000 going to find a way for something to become lunch if you're hungry. Here's Peter. He's hungry. And God 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:22.120 lets down this sheet from heaven filled full of all sorts of animals. Some of them were unclean animals 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:30.579 in Peter's mind. Now I want you to understand, Peter wasn't totally out of kilter here. Because 00:05:30.579 --> 00:05:38.160 when you understand that Peter had been brought up and understood Leviticus chapter 20 in verse 25, 00:05:38.379 --> 00:05:42.740 and it tells him here, you shall therefore put difference between the clean beasts and the unclean, 00:05:42.740 --> 00:05:49.400 between the unclean and the fowls and the clean. You shall not make your souls abominable by beast or 00:05:49.400 --> 00:05:56.699 by fowl or by any manner of living thing that creepeth upon the ground, which was separated from you as 00:05:56.699 --> 00:06:05.660 unclean. Now I want you to understand that Peter's equating, and the Jews did this, they often equated 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:11.740 the unclean animals with the dynamic that all other people besides Jews were unclean. 00:06:13.580 --> 00:06:20.500 God told them to be separated from them because what the other people believed would draw them away. 00:06:22.020 --> 00:06:25.520 It wasn't that God didn't love them. Matter of fact, if you read through the scripture, 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:28.760 you read through the Old Testament, you know what the Jews are supposed to be? They were to be a light 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:35.319 to the rest of the world that there's a God in heaven. They were to be a testimony, but you know, 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:41.980 they lost sight of that many times. They lost sight of what God had intended for them to be. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:50.219 They got caught up in one thing and then applied it into another area that God did not intend, 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:56.400 and it became a problem in their mind. But Peter, I want you to understand, Peter's much like us because 00:06:56.400 --> 00:07:01.620 we do the same thing. I want you to understand this morning, I'm not beating up on Peter because you 00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:07.740 know what? I'm a Peter, you're a Peter, we all can be Peter. None of us are exempt from what we're 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:14.960 talking about here this morning. It might be different things for different people, but you know 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:21.299 what? All of us could be guilty of it. Because we're going to look at Peter here this morning, we find 00:07:21.299 --> 00:07:29.779 that he was very clearly wanting to serve God. Matter of fact, he'd been there in Joppa, and he'd been 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:38.439 testifying to the things of God. He had raised a widow that was dead from the grave, and she came alive 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:44.919 by the power of God, and we see God worked in that, and many believed. I mean, Peter was really on 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:49.920 a spiritual high. I mean, anytime you see a bunch of people saved, that's, I mean, that's a spiritual high. 00:07:51.259 --> 00:07:55.939 To see a soul snatched from hell. But you know what? God told Peter, there's still some things you need to 00:07:55.939 --> 00:08:03.639 work on. There's an area here that's very important because it's causing a stumbling block, not only in 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:10.900 your life, but in the lives of others. And we see here with Peter, Peter was one who would very quickly 00:08:10.899 --> 00:08:17.599 denounce the things of God when he didn't agree with it. You know, he loved God, wanted to serve 00:08:17.599 --> 00:08:23.419 God, but he would quickly tell. You know, look over to Matthew chapter 26 for a moment. You know, this is 00:08:23.419 --> 00:08:30.319 just a good example. This is one of many examples of Peter. You know, it tells us that Jesus saith then 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:36.580 to them, all ye shall be offended because of me this night, for it is written, I have smitten the 00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:42.019 shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. Now think about that for a moment. 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:50.240 Peter says, I believe God's word. And Jesus says, here's what God's word says is going to happen. 00:08:51.939 --> 00:08:57.759 Think about that dynamic for a moment. This is not introducing some new information. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:05.120 This is already established information, but he says this, but after I'm arisen again, I will go 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:11.840 before you into Galilee. Now notice Peter. Peter answered and said unto him, though all men shall be 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:18.860 offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. You know what he told Jesus? That may be true for 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:23.580 everybody else, but not me. As we read this account in Acts 10, you know what Peter's telling the Lord? 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:27.600 Lord, I've never eaten anything unclean. 00:09:29.280 --> 00:09:32.660 Not me, Lord. You know, oftentimes we grab a hold 00:09:32.660 --> 00:09:36.340 of those things in our life, and here we find 00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:41.860 we become like Peter, where God's word tells us something, and we get the opinion 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:45.180 that God, you must be wrong, and I have to be right. 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:49.920 You know, oftentimes we forget that's a hard pill for us to swallow because you know what? It's telling us 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:55.039 that our pride doesn't supersede God's truth. 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:58.339 And Peter needed to learn something very important 00:09:58.339 --> 00:10:03.399 because I want you to understand that God is not finished with any of us. 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:07.740 Throughout your life, he tells us that for a moment of salvation, 00:10:08.319 --> 00:10:12.219 you're in a process of sanctification becoming more like Christ. 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:18.639 You know, when people think, try to treat Peter today, you know, here's the saints. It's like, 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:23.379 you know, Peter was a saint, yes. If you're saved, you're a saint. 00:10:24.920 --> 00:10:29.460 That's what the Bible says. But I want you to understand, just because you're a saint doesn't 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:34.160 mean that you don't have issues in this life, sin, and things that need to be dealt with. 00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:39.259 You're redeemed and going to heaven. He's transforming you into his image. 00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:47.679 He's working on you as an individual. Here he's working on Peter as he's there. And to understand 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:53.340 this dynamic, you think about even Paul. You know, some people build Paul up, but you know what Paul 00:10:53.340 --> 00:11:00.779 said? I have not attained. He says, God has used me in a mighty way because I'm willing to humble 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:07.299 myself and understand that even though God is using me, there is still a lot of broken pieces in me. 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:13.599 Think about what he said. He writes to the church at Philippi there in Philippians chapter three. 00:11:14.079 --> 00:11:19.659 He says, not as though I had already attained, neither already perfect, but I follow after that 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:26.659 I may apprehend for that which I am. I also, I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Think about what 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:31.039 he's saying. He says, I'm not perfect, but I'm following the one that is. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:38.299 Getting my eyes on the right things, he says, because there's going to be struggles along the way 00:11:38.299 --> 00:11:44.599 because God wants to transform you. You know, Ephesians tells us that he wants you to put off 00:11:44.599 --> 00:11:55.299 the old man and put on the new man. That's a process. In our life, a practical sanctification. 00:11:55.299 --> 00:12:01.279 Afterwards, Peter ponders the meaning of this heavenly vision. You know, as I was reading and 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:07.399 studying this, something dawned on me. You know, scripture always comes back. You know, think about 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:13.919 something. Go over to John chapter 16 for a moment because John chapter 16, Jesus is getting ready to 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:18.620 depart. He's getting ready to go to the cross and he's telling his disciples some important information. 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:27.980 I mean, if you read John 13 through 18, you'll find that Jesus did a massive data dump on him. 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:32.840 He's like, I'm getting ready to go to the cross. I need to remind you of this. I need to remind you 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:37.919 of that. I need to remind you of this over here. I imagine the disciples' minds were going, but Jesus 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:41.720 was telling them a lot of information they needed to know. And you know what he told them? He says, guys, 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:50.779 you don't have to remember every detail right now. Because he gives them a promise. He says 00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:57.980 this. He says, how be it when he, the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth, 00:12:58.220 --> 00:13:03.899 for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show 00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:10.120 you things to come. I want you to understand the spirit of God came on the day of Pentecost. 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:18.320 They were empowered with the power of God. You know what happened also? The spirit in their life 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:25.360 began to guide them into truth. Not truth that they made up, truth that was already established. 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:33.560 But yet they had to learn to understand and apply it in their life. To understand how does this work 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:40.779 through, how does this work out in our life? Peter already had the truth of the gospel, but he had 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:47.019 been a preacher of the gospel, seen thousands say, but he was still reluctant to obey in other areas 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:56.259 of his life. Because Peter didn't want to go to Gentiles. I think when you read through this, 00:13:56.259 --> 00:14:01.179 the implication is, is Peter was like, I know what Jesus said, but you know, I'm so busy here, 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:08.319 I'm just going to ignore that. And you see, Peter still struggled with this later on in his life, 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:13.779 and Paul had to get after him. You know, sometimes things beset us. 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:20.579 We get caught up on something. The Bible talks about sins that so easily beset us. 00:14:22.699 --> 00:14:26.240 I want you to understand, I'm not, like I said, I'm not beating up on Peter, 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:32.079 but I'm using Peter as an example for my life and your life of the essentials that we need to grab a 00:14:32.079 --> 00:14:40.159 hold of. Because God's working to him. He reveals the truth of scripture. Notice what he tells Peter here. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:47.539 He tells him here, look at verse 14. And Peter said, not so, Lord, for I have not never eaten 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:54.600 anything that is common nor unclean. You know, now notice verse 14, a voice spake unto him again 00:14:54.600 --> 00:15:02.039 the second time, what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. You know, the Lord here was working 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:08.500 in Peter's life. While all this is happening, the spirit of God speaking to Peter says, okay, Peter, 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:12.960 while you're thinking on that, three guys are at the door and they're seeking for you. 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:19.159 Because I think when this event initially happened, Peter didn't understand the point that God was 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:29.299 making to him. But when the three guys show up and say, hey, Cornelius sent us because God told him 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:35.379 to come get you and you would tell us what we ought to do. You know, the reality is, is Peter was supposed 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:38.519 to tell them what he ought to do. And God's telling Peter what he ought to do. 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:45.059 The question is, was Peter going to be obedient? You know what? Peter was obedient. 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:52.019 I don't think he was confident, but he was obedient. I'm not sure Peter knew what was going to happen 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:58.120 when he went to the house of Cornelius. As you read through the rest of this chapter, you'll find 00:15:58.120 --> 00:16:05.779 that Peter wasn't sure until after he saw what happened. And then God affirmed the reality of that 00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:13.279 truth in his life. When you understand how God was working in Peter's life, he was taking him from a 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:20.019 good Jew that was raised that would not have anything to do with the unclean Gentiles. He takes him to the 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:25.680 house of Cornelius. I want you to understand to us in society today, we're like asking, what's the big 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:33.419 deal? To a Jew and all the Jews that came with Peter that day, it was a big deal. They broke all 00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:39.599 the society rules. They were outside the box. What would other people think? You know, sometimes when it 00:16:39.599 --> 00:16:44.759 comes to obeying God, we're more worried about what somebody else thinks than what God thinks. 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:54.039 We need to be careful that we don't get caught up in things and want to be obedient to the things 00:16:54.039 --> 00:17:00.860 of God. You know, we understand, you know, we looked at this last week as you turn to the end of the 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:09.899 chapter here, in chapter 10. It tells us this in verse 43, that this is Peter, to him give all the 00:17:09.899 --> 00:17:15.799 prophets witness that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive the remission of sins. 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:21.519 While Peter yet spake on these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them, which heard the word. 00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:29.200 You know, Acts chapter 15, Peter's recounting this. And he says this, and after they'd been much 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:34.500 disputing, because Paul came and they had this dispute over the Gentiles being saved and all that 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:40.539 was going on. And Peter makes this statement. He says, men and brethren, you know that how a good while 00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:47.799 ago God made a choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:53.359 believe. He said, God knows the hearts. He says, it's not our job. And then he goes on, he says, 00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:59.539 he put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith. The difference is real. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:07.799 That Peter finally understood and grasped what God was teaching him. So I want to just take a few 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:15.220 moments here today to look at five things that Peter learned. And you're going, man, that's a big list. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:21.740 Well, we'll cover them quickly. Because I want you to think on these later. Because there's probably 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:28.299 areas in your life where you know what God's word says. You know what you ought to do, but there's things 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:34.460 of culture, things that you've grabbed a hold of, things that you think that you've known and understood 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:40.740 how to apply them in scripture. And God is working on you to say, hey, this needs to be different. This 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:44.920 needs to be corrected. This needs to get in line. And the only way it's going to happen, if you're 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:50.340 willing to obey me by faith. Peter didn't go to Cornelius' house and say, hey, well, come on, guys, 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:54.059 we're going to go over here and win all these Gentiles to the Lord. He had no idea what was going to 00:18:54.059 --> 00:19:00.660 happen. But you know what made the difference? He trusted God and was obedient to the things of God. 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:05.460 Because I want you to understand, what did Peter learn? Well, very quickly, he learned that God 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:12.060 wants everyone to be saved. You know, that's an important element for us today. There's nobody 00:19:12.060 --> 00:19:22.019 exempt from God wanting to save them. There is nobody so lost in sin that they cannot turn to God and be 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:28.400 saved. Peter later writes this. He says, the Lord is not slack concerning his promises. Some men count 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:33.980 slackness, but is long-suffering to us who are not willing that any should perish, but that all should 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:41.019 come to repentance. Paul writes to Timothy and reminds him, there he says, who will have all men 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:48.140 to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. You know, I want you to understand the second 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:52.700 thing that he teaches him here, something very important. God's not a respecter of persons. 00:19:52.700 --> 00:20:01.480 God is not a respecter of persons. Now, what does that mean? Because that's important to understand. 00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:08.039 What is he talking about? Simply this, it's in the term, there is no difference. Every person 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:17.080 is in the same place before God until the moment of salvation, and that's what changes everything. 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:25.019 But you know what? Once you're saved, you're just as saved as the next person. You have security in 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:33.339 Christ. There is no difference. If you grow up in church, you know what? If you call upon the Lord 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:40.159 to save you, you're just as saved as the drunk or some other wicked individual who turns to God and 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:48.580 says, Lord, I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. We all get the same thing. The question is, what are 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:55.380 you going to do with it? You know, whoever you are or wherever you come from, God isn't holding anything 00:20:55.380 --> 00:21:02.480 back. You know, Peter just said there in Acts 15, 9, and put no difference between us and them, 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:08.340 purifying their hearts by faith. You know, when Christ died, he didn't just do it for the Jews. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:15.440 He didn't just do it for the Gentiles. He did it for everybody. The Bible says for the whole world. 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:21.960 Ephesians chapter 2 talks about those that Christ that were sometimes afar off were drawn nigh 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:31.500 unto him. When we understand that he has slain that entity between us and him, he has broken down the 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:38.759 middle wall of partition between us. Jews and Gentiles, those are designators that are irrelevant. 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:44.319 You know, today, the designator, those that have believed and those who are still rejecting, 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:50.180 that's the difference today. Question, which are you? Have you believed God? Number three, 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:56.539 this is important. Salvation is obtained the same way for everybody. The leader brought the gospel to 00:21:56.539 --> 00:22:03.640 them. He described what happened to Christ and who Christ is, that he died for their sin, that he rose 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:09.800 again the third day in victory. And he says, you know what, guys? I ate with him afterwards. I know 00:22:09.800 --> 00:22:20.220 he's alive. And Cornelius and those with him there that day believed. He got to say, by faith, the same 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:27.580 way that Peter got it, by faith. Nobody gets a shortcut. You know, if you grow up in church, doesn't give you a 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:36.460 shortcut to God. Still trust him by faith. You know, the Bible makes it clear. Paul uses the example 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:44.759 of Abraham from Genesis 15. And he says this in Romans chapter 4. He says, so what sayeth the 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:51.220 scripture? Abraham believed God. It was counted unto him for righteousness. When Peter preached to 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:59.680 Cornelius, his friends and his family, you know, look here at verse 33 back in our text. 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:07.140 He tells him this, immediately I sent to thee, and had thou done well that thou art come. Now, therefore, 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:12.920 all we, we all here are present before God to hear all things that are commanded of thee of God. 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:18.299 And Peter opened his mouth and said, I, truth, I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons, 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:24.419 but in every nation. He that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. And the word 00:23:24.419 --> 00:23:30.039 which God sent unto the children of Israel preached peace by Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all. That word, 00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:36.279 I say, ye know, from the publishing throughout all Judea and began from Galilee after the baptism of 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:41.940 John, which John preached. Now God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:47.259 who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devils. For God was with him, 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:52.160 and we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews in Jerusalem, 00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:58.460 whom they slew and hang on a tree, whom God raised up the third day and showed him openly. 00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:06.379 Down in verse 42, he says, he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that which 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:13.059 was ordained of God, to be the judge of the quick and the dead, and to give him all the prophets 00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:17.119 witness that through his name, whosoever believes on him shall receive the remissions of sin, 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:22.519 and verse 44 says, while Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them, 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:29.160 which heard the word. That's number four. You know, everybody gets the same dose of the Holy Spirit. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:34.140 Peter learned that there is no difference. There's not elements where Peter didn't get a special 00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:40.299 blessing greater than anybody else. All can live in the power of the Spirit of God once you're saved, 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:44.399 because you all have the same power of the Spirit of God dwelling within you. 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:53.059 Peter learned a very important lesson that day, that dynamic that was critical. He says this in 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:55.500 Acts 15, verse 8, 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:59.559 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bear them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.599 even as he did unto us. 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:07.439 Very importantly, when you believe, you get the Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes and dwells within you. 00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:12.399 Matter of fact, if you don't have the Spirit of God, you're none of his. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:17.139 Because the Spirit of God in your life is the seal that God puts upon you that says, 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:18.719 you are mine. 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:22.779 2 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 22 says, 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:30.619 Ephesians chapter 1 tells us this, 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:33.660 And whom you also trusted after that you heard the word of truth, 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:37.440 the gospel of your salvation, whom also after that you believed, 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:41.359 you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the inheritance, 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:45.680 or the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:47.740 under the praise of his glory. 00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:50.680 The gospel is preached. 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:57.420 people receive it by faith and the Spirit of God comes. Peter had to understand that reality. 00:25:58.200 --> 00:26:03.640 Ready to number five. Five is simply this, it's critical that our thinking align with the Word of 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:11.440 God. Even though he had walked with Jesus, tells us that we need to be careful and always know that 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:15.900 we look back to the Scripture to make sure our life is aligning with what God told him. 00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:23.040 You say, preacher, what do you mean? You know what? Jesus had told them to go ye into all the world and 00:26:23.040 --> 00:26:28.060 preach the gospel to every creature. By being selective, you know what he did? He was ignoring 00:26:28.060 --> 00:26:35.780 part of the mandate God gave to him. What he knew he ought to do and said, not that part, Lord. 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:41.900 About culture and the thinking of the day to supersede the Word of God. 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:50.180 Peter learned very clearly, it's critical that our thinking align with the Word of God. 00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:54.660 This morning we need to learn, just like Peter, to be obedient to the Lord. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:27:00.740 You know, obedience starts, you know, the Bible tells us we ought to be obedient to believe the 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:07.480 gospel. That's where it starts. You know, there's people that understand that Jesus Christ came 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:17.740 and died on the cross for them. The perfect man, the man of that God who became flesh, came and died for you. 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:25.920 All the sin upon himself, buried. That's not the end of the story. The end of the story is he rose again 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:35.779 in victory over death. The Bible says the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life. 00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:43.580 I want you to understand that Jesus revealed that he is victorious over the penalty of sin. 00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:47.160 Know that, but if you don't do something with it, it's ineffectual. 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:50.259 Oh, you can know things in your head and do nothing about it. 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:55.859 God can be speaking to you and you can be Peter saying, not so, Lord. 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:59.000 I'll ask you a simple question. What's God asking 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:02.039 you today? 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:05.319 God's asking you to be obedient about something. 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:08.160 Obedient in the gospel for salvation. 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:12.779 Is it obedient to do the things that you ought to do? 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:17.740 Is there an area of your life where you say, well, Lord, I'm just not comfortable with that. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:21.500 My pride's in the way is really, we don't say that, but that's what it is. 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:25.120 Tells us he hath knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him it is sin. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:30.660 If you know what God's word says and God's spirit's prompting you, 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:31.940 don't be Peter. 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.839 The Peter at the beginning. 00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:39.740 Be the Peter at the end of the story that said, okay, Lord, I'll go. 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.339 I'll obey. 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:44.440 I'll do what you want me to do. 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:48.900 Where are you this morning? 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:51.660 As heads are bowed and eyes are closed, 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:55.660 I want you to consider that reality in your life today. 00:28:56.900 --> 00:29:00.799 Is there an area in your life that you're being like Peter was at the beginning? 00:29:02.080 --> 00:29:04.700 Lord, I know what your word says, but not so, Lord. 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:07.559 You're holding on to that hinders 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:10.340 your obedience to the Lord. 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:17.559 I want you to say, Lord, I'm going to trust your word over what everything else is. 00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:24.319 No matter what the world thinks or somebody else thinks, Lord, I'm going to trust you above all. 00:29:25.939 --> 00:29:29.220 Maybe you're here today and not sure to stand with God. 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:35.960 There's no greater day than today than to call upon him for salvation to you. 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:42.220 Heavenly fathers, we just close the service here today, Lord, with an invitation, an opportunity to respond. 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:47.220 Lord, you never leave us because, Lord, you always expect a response. 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:51.220 And, Lord, we know today there's going to be a response. 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:56.220 Lord, because whenever you ask us something, Lord, there's always a response. 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.900 A response. 00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.620 Yes, Lord. 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.039 No, Lord. 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:02.079 Your response today. 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:06.680 Heavenly fathers, we just come before you today, Lord. 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:08.500 You know each heart, each life. 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.660 Lord, you might work. 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:15.720 Lord, we might go away knowing that we've said yes to you. 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:19.480 And not let things hinder us in our life. 00:30:20.620 --> 00:30:23.039 And, Lord, we just ask these things in your precious name. 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:24.900 Amen.