Sermon Notes "Plans" based on Acts 10:24-48
Introduction: I would like you to think about the word “plans”. Write down on your bulletin some plans you have for: this week, summer, your future, etc. I am a planner so I love to know what is going to happen. Yet we also need to keep in mind a Scripture from Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” We are going to see from the story of Peter and Cornelius, two great leaders who had plans yet God had a different plan and purpose for them and for others.
Prepared-vs. 24-29
·
Vs. 23-24-Peter and Cornelius
have visions (10:1-23)
o Peter is told not to call common what God has made clean (15). As Peter is
trying to figure out what it means, some men come and find him.
o Cornelius is told to call for a man named Peter and is given his location
and he sends his servants to find him.
o Peter makes preparations and goes to Caesarea, Cornelius gets ready for his
guests and invites his close friends and family.
·
Vs. 25-26-Cornelius fell down
and worshipped him, but Peter lifted him up
o Only God alone should be worshipped.
We need to be careful not to worship people that God uses.
o Nevertheless, as a
believer in the God, he still needed to hear the gospel and trust in Jesus as
the Messiah[1]
·
Vs. 27-29-Peter finds a crowd
gathered and he reminds them of the law or “rules” (Jews to visit anyone of
another nation) but because He heard from God (don’t call a person common or
unclean) he came without objection and asked why Cornelius sent for him.
o The old purity laws could
no longer separate Jew from Gentile. Since God had shown himself no respecter
of persons, neither could Peter be one anymore.[2]
o What rules have we created in church that keep people from knowing Jesus?
Prayer-vs. 30-33
·
Vs. 30-Cornelius story-4 days
ago I was praying and an angel appeared
·
Vs. 31-He said your prayer
has been heard and your alms remembered before God
o Hear this truth clearly--God hears your prayers! Even those that you do not see the answer
yet.
·
Vs. 32-Send to Joppa and ask
for Peter, he is staying in house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.
o Notice how specific God is to Cornelius through the angel. He gives town, person, location and even occupation
of man where is staying. Why? So there
is no doubt it is God and what He is about to do.
§ Can God be this specific for you?
Yes. We have to ask. And listen.
·
Vs. 33-So I obeyed and you
are kind enough to come so “we are all here in the presence of God to hear all
that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
o Maybe we should pray for
God-ordained ears and God-prepared hearts to whose owners the Holy Spirit can
direct us without a misstep or confusion[3]
o Church, do we expect and anticipate God is going to speak and move when we
come to worship? Or do we just go
through the motions?
Preach-vs. 34-43
·
Vs. 34-35-God shows no
partiality (no favorites) and He says you are “acceptable”
o We can learn from our Heavenly Father
·
Vs. 36-43-Peter tells them
about the Jesus he knows
o 36-Good news, peace through Jesus, He is Lord of all
o Peter tells them about Jesus life, death, resurrection
o 38-Annointed Jesus with Holy Spirit and power-doing good, healing those
oppressed by Devil-God was with Him
§ Are we as his followers about the same things that Jesus was about? Do our churches look like the priorities of
Jesus?
o 39-We are witnesses of these things, death on a tree
o 40-God raised him on third day and he appeared to others
o 41-ate and drank with him after his resurrection
o 42-Commanded us to preach to people and testify that He is the one
appointed by God to judge living and dead
o 43-All prophets point to Him and everyone who believes received forgiveness
of sin through His name.
Poured-vs. 44-48
·
44-While Peter is preaching,
the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word
·
45-46-Believers with Peter
are amazed that gift of Holy Spirit was poured out on Gentiles & Heard them
speaking in tongues and extolling God
·
47-Can we keep them from
being baptized who have received same Spirit as us?
·
48-He commanded them to be
baptized and they asked Peter to stay some days.
Response (Reflect)
·
Pray with others, prayer team
or pastors or Confess/Repent
·
Take communion
·
Ask God: which of these Lord
do you want me to focus on: prepared, prayer, preach, or poured?
[1]
Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the
Apostles (p. 335). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
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