WEBVTT 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:18.079 We are in a sermon series called Empowered by the Holy Spirit. 00:00:18.240 --> 00:00:19.519 Empowered by the Spirit. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:25.280 And the title of the message this morning is When the Holy Spirit Goes Public. 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:29.039 When the Holy Spirit, just like how people sometimes they, what is it called? 00:00:29.200 --> 00:00:30.000 A hard launch? 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:31.679 They're like, oh, they together. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:37.679 Um the Holy Spirit wants the world and the people you're around to know that, yeah, yeah, we are a thing. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:39.359 The Holy Spirit does indwell me. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:40.799 The Holy Spirit does use me. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:43.200 So let's dive into this message. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:47.600 There's a term that I'm sure most of you uh have heard of before called adulting. 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:48.799 Adulting. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:50.560 Adulting is that stage of life. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:01:01.119 It typically happens in college for most people, it did for me, uh, when you realize that you actually have to start living like and acting like an adult, like a grown-up. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:01.600 Right? 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:05.520 It took me a long time to really uh learn what I needed to. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:17.520 Uh I mean, I I think I was probably 25 when I finally started grasping some of the things I needed to do to eventually get married to uh my wife and be a productive member of society and have an amazing family. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:22.000 I I will never forget the very first day of football practice at Saks State. 00:01:22.080 --> 00:01:25.840 I grew up in the Bay, and you know, usually some homes don't even have AC units. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:32.000 First practice at Sack State, I'm laying on my back and I'm stretching my knee, and it is the middle of July. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:37.759 And I say out loud, what am I doing out here in Sacramento? 00:01:37.919 --> 00:01:45.199 And then a couple weeks later, I get my first scholarship check, and growing up, we didn't know anything about investing, budgeting, none of these things. 00:01:45.360 --> 00:01:47.759 I went straight to the mall and did it all. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:55.199 And this is back in the day when you couldn't buy just one pair of Air Force ones, you had to buy two. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:58.240 Uh two purs, to say it correctly, right? 00:01:58.400 --> 00:01:58.879 Uh-huh. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:03.599 So instantly there was way more month left than money, and there's things I had to learn. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:05.039 But by then it was too late. 00:02:05.199 --> 00:02:05.439 Right? 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:07.599 Mommy and daddy couldn't save me now. 00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:10.240 And even if they wanted to, they didn't have the means to. 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:12.080 So I had to figure some things out. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:22.560 I had to grow up, or in the famous words of the apostle Paul, I love when he says is he says, uh uh, when I became a man, I put away childish things. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:33.680 Even now, as I reverse engineer my life, I I'm trying, I understand now what I'm trying to get our kids to understand is it's not punishment, it's protection, it's preparation. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:39.680 The things that we're trying to get you to do to clean up your room and uh things that seem pretty basic and common sense. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:47.120 But now, as I fast forward into the season of life that I'm in, all of a sudden my definition of fun has changed. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:53.840 Going to Costco, walking down every aisle. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:55.919 Look at that fan. 00:02:56.079 --> 00:02:58.000 Look at that detergent. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:04.959 Trying not to spend a hundred dollars is a fun game that I like to play in Costco. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:09.280 I fail 99% of the time when I do it, but that's what fun is now. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:10.799 Going to Home Depot, right? 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:14.479 Uh-uh, um, eating those genetically modified cotton candy grapes. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.159 Like, how does it grapes in this cotton candy? 00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:18.479 Either way, it feels risky doing it, right? 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:28.719 Um nowadays though, paying off credit cards and receiving dividend checks from the investments that my wife and I have made, those things are fun. 00:03:28.959 --> 00:03:32.400 Being able to fill up the I don't know if being able to fill up the gas tank. 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:33.759 It's a blessing. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.759 It's a blessing being able to fill your gas tank all the way up. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:40.959 And it, yeah, three numbers show up now. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:49.599 Um watching my eight-year-old daughter playing her first AAU basketball game yesterday was so much fun. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:52.400 She was playing defense on offense. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:54.799 I said, Why are you guarding somebody? 00:03:54.959 --> 00:03:57.199 You guys have the ball, but it's fun to watch. 00:03:57.359 --> 00:03:58.639 Teacher, learn. 00:04:00.239 --> 00:04:03.280 Over here boxing out somebody, we're supposed to be getting open. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:09.840 But as I got older, I realized that spiritual maturity is not an age, it's a decision. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:12.239 You can be an old fool. 00:04:12.959 --> 00:04:15.280 So, so uh, y'all like, yeah, I know. 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:24.240 So I decided to pray and ask that God would place the right people around me to help me grow, learn, and mature. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:26.160 See, it was common sense. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:34.240 I was regularly around people that had great wisdom, great insight, people that were innovative, people that could write a$50,000 check like it was a$50 check. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:36.159 I know some of y'all like, where they at? 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:39.040 So, so why not? 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:44.879 This is what my mind is screaming at me, why not just ask these people whom you already know what they know? 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:46.319 And I started doing that. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:59.839 So over the years, God has placed people in my life to help me grow and learn and mature, from family members to colleagues to people that are successful and famous now, to board members to pastors, and even some of you right here at the church. 00:05:00.159 --> 00:05:07.839 So, as does everyone who's saved, I also have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of me for spiritual development and maturity. 00:05:08.159 --> 00:05:14.480 And so, as we look into Acts chapter 10, if you have your Bibles today, that's where it will be exclusively. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:18.480 Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic gospels. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:21.199 That synoptic means seeing together. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:28.719 This is why you see different authors agreeing on the same things because the Holy Spirit divinely inspired them all. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:33.360 But the book of John is different in that it dives right into the deity of Christ. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:37.279 In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was God. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:48.319 See, Matthew was written for a Jewish audience, Mark was written for a Roman audience, Luke was written for a Greek audience, and the book of Acts could technically be called Luke part two. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:51.680 Because Luke is the writer of both gospel accounts. 00:05:52.159 --> 00:05:57.920 In Luke, he writes about the beginning of what Jesus said and did, and then in Acts it's a continuation. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:06.079 So he he he's he's communicating to us uh the continuation of what Jesus is now doing through those who he has saved. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:12.319 So you could say that the book of Acts is the same thing as this title it's the Holy Spirit going public. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:20.000 So part of the narrative in the book of Acts is that God reaches people that some of us think are unreachable. 00:06:20.159 --> 00:06:21.920 And it's kind of prideful to even say that. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:25.120 Like there's people that are unreachable if you know who God is. 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:31.360 There's an unnamed woman at the well that had been with five men and was now with number six until Jesus shows up. 00:06:31.599 --> 00:06:35.759 There's an Ethiopian in a chariot, desperately trying to comprehend scripture. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:45.680 There's Saul, the persecutor and killer of Christians, on the road again to Damascus, uh to the synagogue to do more harm towards people of the way, towards believers. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:47.120 And so, what does Acts do? 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:52.639 It makes it clear that God is willing and able to reach anyone and use anyone. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:53.040 Why? 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:54.240 Because he's God. 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:59.040 So the woman at the well, she had been used and shamed. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:03.120 But there's a difference between a man using you and God using you. 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:09.759 See, a man will leave you broken and trying to hide, but God will make you whole and allow your light to shine. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:17.199 See, some of you are the very ones that people from back home can't believe are now following Christ. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:18.240 They're like, who? 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:18.959 You? 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:20.879 Yeah, yeah, yeah, you? 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.079 Yes, me. 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:23.680 No way, way. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:25.839 Yeah, Yahweh. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:34.879 There's things that I used to do that to this day, people from back home would be like, there's no way he's a pastor. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:36.639 They're still embarrassing to think about. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:48.480 Back in the day when I there used to be this club, some of you are old enough to know, it's called Tonel21, and I used to go to different clubs, and I'll be in the club with no shirt on. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:51.599 The club is dark with sunglasses on. 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:57.120 And even just saying that right now, I'm like, bruh, what were you thinking? 00:07:57.360 --> 00:07:59.839 Um, by the way, that's how I judge people now. 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:01.439 I look at what they're doing and what they're wearing. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:05.040 I'm like, oh, 10 years from now, I think look back on that picture and be like, what was I thinking? 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:08.959 Uh, anyways, I used to wear Jabot jeans and tall T's. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:11.839 And for whatever reason, I thought that that was cool, right? 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:15.279 I used to uh steal CDs from Walmart back in the day. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:09:24.680 This is back when I was young, maybe 14, 15 years old, and we didn't have much, and so I was listening to all the uh artists, Buster Rhymes, Andre 3000, Outcast, and we didn't have money, so I would just go still like one CD every week from Walmart. 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:27.480 But I didn't know for two months they were watching me. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:30.759 So they weren't smart. 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:32.360 If they were smart, they would have just grabbed me. 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:37.720 So one day I still I'm still in the I remember it's a Buster Rhyme CD, and I grab it, and I think I'm sliding out. 00:09:37.800 --> 00:09:41.800 Some dude just comes out of nowhere, he says, Hey, we caught you. 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:45.800 We've been watching you, we have film on you for the last two months. 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:47.720 And I'm like, okay. 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:51.800 But what he didn't know was that uh I had some sauce. 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:55.560 So uh I immediately ski skirker, take off on him. 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:56.840 I'm at the back of Walmart. 00:09:56.920 --> 00:09:58.040 I'm at the back of Walmart. 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:00.360 And I'm like, he should have just like arrested me or grabbed me. 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:03.720 I get to the front of Walmart, but they already had it all set up. 00:10:03.800 --> 00:10:05.720 There was a, you know, Walmart got a million doors. 00:10:05.800 --> 00:10:09.800 So there's a big old dude, and he's at the door waiting like this, like a middle linebacker. 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:10.840 He is waiting for me. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:14.440 I hit the corner, and this is the uh Walmart that has a McDonald's. 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:16.440 I go by it, and the guy's waiting for me. 00:10:16.520 --> 00:10:18.520 I hit him with multiple moves at once. 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:22.440 I hit him with a hezzy, then I hit a hero, and then I do a spin move. 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:25.720 And he goes, and he goes grasping for me and misses. 00:10:25.800 --> 00:10:31.320 I start screaming, and I run about a 5K all the way home. 00:10:31.400 --> 00:10:34.120 And that was a wake-up, that was a pivotal moment in my life. 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:34.759 You know why? 00:10:34.920 --> 00:10:36.040 Two things I realized. 00:10:36.680 --> 00:10:42.120 Bruh, are you really gonna risk getting arrested for a C D? 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:46.360 And then the other thing I realized is, dude, you're athletic. 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:49.639 You need to use that for the glory of God. 00:10:52.040 --> 00:10:54.360 You need to let God use you. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.120 Not juking out mall cops and stuff. 00:11:00.280 --> 00:11:01.800 That was a wake-up call for me. 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:08.520 So I know there's people back home in Union City that can only imagine me being an athlete but not being a pastor. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:17.879 But that's okay because God loves using ordinary, unqualified, and overlooked people to accomplish extraordinary things. 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:23.320 The Bible says this random woman who was shamed, right? 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:29.080 She goes on after she's influenced and impacted by Jesus to lead many people to Christ. 00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:29.800 Right? 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:32.040 So let me ask you this question. 00:11:32.280 --> 00:11:36.440 What good is being an influencer if God hasn't influenced you? 00:11:38.520 --> 00:11:39.639 Let me plant this seed. 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:41.639 Here's something to think about for you note takers. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:46.600 We are not ready to go influence anybody until God has influenced us. 00:11:47.160 --> 00:11:51.480 So ask yourself this question: what does that look like for you tomorrow? 00:11:52.040 --> 00:11:59.879 If you say, I have to allow space for God to influence me before I try to go influence anybody else, what does that look like? 00:12:00.040 --> 00:12:08.680 Does that look like going to bed 30 minutes, an hour earlier so you can wake up earlier and spend time with God, spend time abiding in his presence so that you're overflowing and that's what people experience? 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:10.120 What is it for you? 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:17.480 See, we'll talk about this more shortly, but spiritual maturity is recognizing that we are nothing without Christ. 00:12:17.800 --> 00:12:21.320 But also living in the reality that we can do all things through him. 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:22.600 Right, right, right, right. 00:12:23.400 --> 00:12:32.759 That with him, with Christ, we are content, should be content in any and every situation or circumstance. 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:42.360 So part of the story we're looking at is about spiritual conversions, and we'll see that Peter needs a conversion before he can be used to help convert others. 00:12:42.920 --> 00:12:50.759 In Acts 10, the Holy Spirit brings change to Peter's soul and social change to the relationships between Jews and Gentiles. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:53.080 This beef was centuries long. 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.920 They were like rival gangs. 00:12:55.080 --> 00:13:08.200 It reminds me of that scene in the Michael Jackson movie where I don't know how he did it, but he actually hired 80 current gang members to be in the beat it movie. 00:13:08.520 --> 00:13:12.360 Now, all these young kids talking about aura, now that's aura. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:18.520 You get dudes that literally were just on the news killing each other to come and battle dance against each other. 00:13:18.680 --> 00:13:19.160 I don't. 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:29.160 Now, I know nothing about being a thug, but battle dancing against my rivals does not sound too thuggish, but that was the sway and aura that Michael Jackson had. 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:40.920 Nevertheless, Michael's hope in doing this was uh to provide some kind of temporary truce, which they did, that he was hoping would lead to lasting peace between the games. 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:47.080 But what was missing in that equation, if you will, was the Holy Spirit doing the guiding and directing. 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:50.280 So they went right back to doing what they were doing. 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:55.800 Unfortunately, the Holy Spirit was central to the forming and shaping of the early church. 00:13:56.040 --> 00:14:00.600 So people allow the Holy Spirit to continually work in them and through them. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:09.000 And so the big question for the message is this will we, will you, will we allow the Holy Spirit to keep working on us? 00:14:09.400 --> 00:14:11.320 It is a journey, it is a process. 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.560 There are certain things that might happen instantly. 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:16.920 You realize that maybe you were racist or whatever it may be. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:20.200 And you can change, like when God cuts the lights on, you can change. 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:25.800 But oftentimes it's a process, it's a journey that you have to keep returning to, keep restoring you. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:34.680 Sometimes forgiveness for me, it took years and years and years, and then all of a sudden, the things that my father used to do, I don't even hold those things against him. 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:40.440 That's only the Holy Spirit that can do that, but you have to commit to the process and commit to the journey. 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:50.120 So wherever you're at in life today, sitting in your seat, clothed in your right mind, the fact that you are still breathing is proof that God has not done with you yet. 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:52.920 Amen. 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:55.080 So don't give up on the process. 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:57.080 Whatever it is that you're navigating through. 00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:00.440 Allow him to work on you, to challenge you, to develop you. 00:15:00.520 --> 00:15:01.080 Don't quit. 00:15:01.160 --> 00:15:02.520 It's the only way you lose. 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:07.639 So here's point number one the Holy Spirit challenges our comfort zones. 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:10.200 He comes for our comfort zones. 00:15:10.520 --> 00:15:12.360 Acts chapter 10, verse 1 through 8. 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:20.040 It says, At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion, in what was known as the Italian regiment. 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:23.639 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing. 00:15:23.800 --> 00:15:27.800 He gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 00:15:28.040 --> 00:15:31.240 One day at about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:35.960 He distinctly saw an angel of God who came to him and said, Cornelius. 00:15:36.520 --> 00:15:38.840 Cornelius stared at him in fear. 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.759 What is it, Lord? 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:41.639 He asked. 00:15:42.040 --> 00:15:46.759 The angel answered, Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 00:15:46.920 --> 00:15:50.920 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who was called Peter. 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:54.200 He is staying with Simon the Tanner, whose house is by the sea. 00:15:54.440 --> 00:16:01.720 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:06.600 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:11.720 Now in the Roman army, the Roman army was comprised of legions. 00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:15.080 One legion meant six thousand men. 00:16:15.800 --> 00:16:21.320 So inside of each legion were regiments, or we would call them cohorts of 600 men. 00:16:21.560 --> 00:16:29.240 So every centurion, which uh Cornelius was, every single one of them, they oversaw 100 men. 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:37.160 So according to history, these centurions were the backbone of the Roman army as it pertained to discipline and ultimately their success. 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:40.280 They were, if you watch movies like Gladiator, right? 00:16:40.520 --> 00:16:43.240 Maximus Decimus Meridius, I think that's his name. 00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:47.240 They were trained to be very steady and focused individuals. 00:16:47.400 --> 00:16:51.240 Because you can't have your leaders panicking during times of war and uncertainty. 00:16:51.400 --> 00:16:53.160 They were balanced, even killed. 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:58.360 So this man, Cornelius, was devout, meaning that he was serious about religion, right? 00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.639 He was God-fearing. 00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:03.560 He gave generously to those in need and he prayed regularly. 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:08.120 If this was the start of a checklist for a woman that was looking for a man, this is a great start. 00:17:08.360 --> 00:17:09.560 This is a great start. 00:17:09.800 --> 00:17:14.840 Don't start your list with he needs to be six foot tall, he needs to have money. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.640 I mean, hey, this is a great list. 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:20.120 He's serious about things of the Lord. 00:17:20.280 --> 00:17:24.040 He gives generously to those in need and he prays regularly. 00:17:24.520 --> 00:17:30.440 The term God fearer means that he believed in the God of Israel, but was not yet a Jewish convert. 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:38.840 So Cornelius had responded to God's revelation, but hadn't transitioned to the new covenant, to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:41.640 And so this is what's transpiring in this story. 00:17:42.040 --> 00:17:43.400 Just really quick. 00:17:43.800 --> 00:17:50.440 Men, uh, raise your hand if you oversee a hundred or more people at your job, at your or your business. 00:17:53.080 --> 00:17:54.520 Okay, we got a few. 00:17:55.320 --> 00:17:56.280 I see you. 00:17:56.520 --> 00:18:00.440 Um this text doesn't say it, but he had to be humble. 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:07.639 Because most brothers that I know, if they oversaw a hundred dudes and they was on a date with you, they would find a way to let you know. 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:11.160 Uh, you know, I'm kind of a big deal. 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:17.159 Uh I oversee about a hundred guys at work, you know, light work, nothing, nothing, nothing big. 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:21.720 They would they would be wanting to let you know that there's some type of boss, right? 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.439 But not him. 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:25.399 He's just faithful and confident who God's called him to be. 00:18:25.639 --> 00:18:31.399 Cornelius oversaw 100 soldiers, but get this it was God who oversaw him. 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:33.559 It was God who oversaw him. 00:18:33.639 --> 00:18:37.879 He had influence, he had authority, but he still recognized who runs the show. 00:18:38.679 --> 00:18:41.960 So look at his response in verse 4 after seeing an angel. 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:45.639 It's a very humble response for someone in power and authority. 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.639 Uh, he says, What is it, Lord? 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:49.079 Your servant's here. 00:18:49.159 --> 00:18:50.039 What do you want me to do? 00:18:50.199 --> 00:18:51.480 Where do you want me to go? 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:56.279 See, we'll see in the next point that Peter's response was much different than this. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:00.359 The Holy Spirit challenges, comes for our comfort zones. 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:02.599 I didn't catch this until I read it a few times. 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:08.359 That the angel only gives Cornelius one instruction and no real why behind it. 00:19:08.679 --> 00:19:09.480 No real why. 00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:15.240 But Cornelius does exactly what he's been instructed to do, and catch this, he does it immediately. 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:22.599 As soon as the angel leaves, he gets the two servants and sends them to Joppa to go get this man, and he doesn't even know who he is. 00:19:24.439 --> 00:19:29.480 He saw an angel that gave him instructions, but that still required him to have faith. 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:31.000 Now, now let me make it plain. 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:49.559 Imagine, brothers, coming home and telling your wife that an angel just told you to go get some random man that neither of you personally know that's 35 miles away, which in that day, that time period would have been about a four-day round trip to come to your house so your friends and family can hear him out. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:56.679 I don't know how your hospitality situation is set up in your home, but there would be a longer discussion about what is what's going on. 00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:59.319 Who that man, Harpo? 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:06.599 It would make sense if there was a little anxiety around Peter's arrival. 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.039 Who is this guy? 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:15.720 So the big question that I had when I first started studying this was why did both Cornelius and Peter have to go through this? 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:16.359 Right? 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:22.919 For reference, just to give you uh that that trip would be like going from Elk Grove to Roseville, no car. 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:24.599 Right? 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:28.119 So why didn't God just use the angel that was already there? 00:20:28.439 --> 00:20:32.279 The angel's already there, just present the gospel to him and his family. 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:35.240 Well, there's a few things to consider biblically. 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:38.439 Number one, God is God, and we aren't. 00:20:38.679 --> 00:20:45.720 Uh he can choose to do what he wants and use who he wants and teach us lessons however he decides to do that. 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:50.439 Number two, the Great Commission is God's plan for humans, not for angels. 00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:55.960 There is one time that an angel will present the gospel that is in Revelation during the end times. 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.399 And you know why that's gonna happen? 00:20:57.559 --> 00:21:01.159 So nobody can be with an excuse of I never heard the gospel. 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:05.559 That angel is gonna come down and tell everybody what the gospel is. 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:12.759 But God's plan in the here and now is for us to fulfill the Great Commission by going and proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ. 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:20.839 The third thing is that Peter needed to learn a valuable lesson about God's plan for salvation, that salvation is for all Jews and Gentiles. 00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:24.439 So he needed his religious comfort zone challenged. 00:21:24.679 --> 00:21:29.000 And both needed an experience, they needed to experience a conversion. 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:33.559 So while one was searching, one was being sanctified so he could be sent. 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:35.720 That brings us to point number two. 00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:40.119 The Holy Spirit sends us places we wouldn't go on our own. 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:49.879 If we're really tapped in with the Holy Spirit, he's going to have you engage in conversations, discussions, even go places that you would never go on your own. 00:21:50.199 --> 00:21:58.359 Verses 9 through 17 says, About noon the following day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 00:21:58.599 --> 00:22:03.799 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:09.399 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheep being let down to earth by its four corners. 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:14.119 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:18.599 Then a voice told him, Get up, Peter, kill and eat. 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:20.759 Surely not, Lord. 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:25.639 Peter replied, I have never eaten anything impure or unclean. 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:31.240 I can see his chest puffed out as he tells the Lord what he's not gonna do. 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:35.159 The voice spoke to him a second time. 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:42.519 This happened three times. 00:22:42.919 --> 00:22:45.079 That has a way of establishing things. 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:46.439 Two or three. 00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:49.879 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:57.799 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 00:22:58.439 --> 00:23:03.319 So the difference in how the centurion replied, What is it, Lord? 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:08.439 And how Peter replies, I ain't gonna do that, Lord, is way different. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:13.960 But when you look at Peter's track record, You'll see a common theme with his character. 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:17.799 Primarily his extremely impulsive nature. 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:19.639 Let me give you just a few things. 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:22.839 Peter questions Jesus about washing his feet. 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:26.679 Peter initially questions Jesus about catching fish. 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:32.519 Can you imagine telling the Lord, like who created the fish and the water and the boat and everything? 00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:34.599 Like, nah, this is how we're gonna catch fish. 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:41.559 He immediately questions him, and then he's like reluctant to say, okay, I'll go to the other side. 00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:44.599 Peter actually wanted forgiveness limits. 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:48.199 He said, How many times do I gotta forgive him? 00:23:48.439 --> 00:23:49.319 Just seven? 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.000 No, no, no. 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.919 Seventy times seven. 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:59.960 After Jesus predicts his death, Peter rebukes Jesus and he looks at him and says, Get behind thee, Satan. 00:24:00.199 --> 00:24:02.519 Peter cut off the ear of the Roman soldier. 00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:06.199 Peter also denied Christ three times and had to be restored. 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:09.720 But here in this text, Peter isn't being rebellious. 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:11.240 He's being religious. 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:23.480 This is the Peter we're dealing with in this text, but do not make the mistake of assuming that you've never had seasons of life and uh seasons in your life and moments in your life where you did not respond just like him. 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:28.919 I've recently asked God, can I stop forgiving this person and start clapping back? 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:31.879 Just me. 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:39.319 I've jumped the gun and tried to walk on water before I was ready. 00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:39.960 Right? 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:42.119 I've taken my focus off of Christ. 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:45.720 I've questioned God about things that I think I already know, Lord. 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:47.159 I've done that. 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:52.279 Peter's also up against centuries of misinterpretations and misinformation. 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:57.960 See, God's plan for the Jews was to live set apart, meaning to live holy lives. 00:24:58.199 --> 00:24:59.079 But why? 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.119 But why? 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:07.559 So that it would attract the attention of the Gentile nations and lead them to worship the one true God and follow the promised Messiah. 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:16.359 The problem is that they misinterpreted this covenant by viewing it as a mandate for ethnic superiority, strict separatism. 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:24.199 So what happens is a nationalistic arrogance develops, and Gentiles were now seen as being fundamentally inferior. 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.799 This is important. 00:25:26.199 --> 00:25:31.559 Because what God does to Peter in this chapter is what he wants to do in our lives too. 00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:38.839 But what we'll see that Peter does, that we must also do, is to commit to the process, to not give up. 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:47.799 See, mature believers don't run from the work that needs to be done, whether that's healing or reconciliation, a new vision, whether that's whatever it may be. 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.799 We can't run from the process. 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:53.720 So at the beginning of the process, he's telling the Lord what he won't do. 00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:55.240 Surely not, Lord. 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:59.799 But by the end of it, his eyes are open to what God wants him to do. 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:01.159 He sees it clearly. 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.919 And we see this happening. 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:10.279 So as I read this, start to ask yourself when does the Lord really open up his eyes to what he's calling him to do? 00:26:10.439 --> 00:26:13.720 In verse 15, the voice spoke to him a second time. 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:16.839 Then in verse 16, it says it happened three times. 00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:22.759 Then by verse 17, Peter was still wondering about the meaning of this vision. 00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:27.799 So at this point, he still hadn't gotten it, but the Lord is so gracious and loving. 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:31.000 He doesn't give up on Peter just like he doesn't give up on us. 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:33.079 But he's beginning to wake him up. 00:26:33.639 --> 00:26:35.720 He's no longer saying, Surely not, Lord. 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.519 He's perplexed. 00:26:36.679 --> 00:26:37.720 He's asking questions. 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:40.919 What are you trying to reveal to me, Lord? 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:55.799 See, and for some of you in here right now, God is trying to wake you up and show you that he has something greater for you, but you're you have to be willing to set aside some of your childish ways and some of the childish things that you have been doing. 00:26:56.759 --> 00:27:02.279 You have to embrace the process of letting the Holy Spirit work on you and in you and eventually through you. 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:07.240 And this has to be uncomfortable because Peter is a devout Jewish rule keeper. 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:10.439 He was faithful to the Jewish food laws. 00:27:10.679 --> 00:27:14.839 But God's not trying to change his diet, he's trying to change his heart. 00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:20.679 He wants him to see that salvation is for everyone, not just for your people. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:25.240 And that there's no place for bigotry or favoritism in God's kingdom. 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:27.079 Understand this. 00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:32.839 The same spirit that comforts you is the same spirit that confronts you. 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:38.519 But the confrontation is not to break you, it's to build you. 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:44.599 The Holy Spirit can't fully lead someone that refuses to move beyond what's comfortable. 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:47.720 You have to come to the end of yourself. 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:53.639 See, God's agenda goes beyond our social boundaries, beyond our categories, and beyond our biases. 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:58.439 See, once God changes our heart, he can change our direction. 00:27:58.919 --> 00:28:05.960 Here's the final point: the Holy Spirit points us to people to point them to Christ. 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:08.919 He will point us to people so we can point them to Christ. 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:11.879 I'm gonna read some good portion of scripture here. 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:14.679 In Acts chapter 10, verse 19 through 22. 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:21.399 It says, While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Simon, three men are looking for you. 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:23.319 So get up and go downstairs. 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:26.839 Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them. 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:30.919 Peter went and said to the men, I'm the one you're looking for. 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.519 Why have you come? 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:36.039 The men replied, We have come from Cornelius the centurion. 00:28:36.199 --> 00:28:40.599 He is a righteous and God-fearing man who is respected by all the Jewish people. 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:47.319 A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that uh he could hear what you have to say. 00:28:47.559 --> 00:29:00.599 Now, as I read, as I prepare to close and I read this last portion of scripture, ask yourself, when in this process, in this journey, does Peter finally grasp what the Lord is calling him to do? 00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:04.919 In verse 24, it says, The following day he arrived in Caesarea. 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:10.199 Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 00:29:10.439 --> 00:29:14.599 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:16.439 But Peter made him get up. 00:29:16.679 --> 00:29:19.559 Stand up, he said, I am only a man myself. 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:23.960 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 00:29:24.199 --> 00:29:31.079 He said to them, You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:36.759 But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:41.000 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:43.319 But he still asked the same question again. 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:46.039 He says, May I ask you why you sent for me? 00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:48.839 So God is starting to wake him up. 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.519 He's starting to get it. 00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.159 Let's continue. 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:51.879 Verse 30. 00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:57.000 Cornelius answered, Three days ago, I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. 00:29:57.240 --> 00:30:03.799 Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gift to the poor. 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:06.279 Send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:10.439 He is a guest in the home of Simon the Tanner, who lives by the sea. 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:13.960 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good for you to come. 00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:19.480