CLEARLY SEEING THE WILL OF GOD
ACTS 11:1-18 THE APOSTLES AND THE BROTHERS THROUGHOUT JUDEA HEARD THAT THE GENTILES ALSO HAD RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD. 2 SO WHEN PETER WENT UP TO JERUSALEM, THE CIRCUMCISED BELIEVERS CRITICIZED HIM 3 AND SAID, "YOU WENT INTO THE HOUSE OF UNCIRCUMCISED MEN AND ATE WITH THEM." 4 PETER BEGAN AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO THEM PRECISELY AS IT HAD HAPPENED: 5 "I WAS IN THE CITY OF JOPPA PRAYING, AND IN A TRANCE I SAW A VISION. I SAW SOMETHING LIKE A LARGE SHEET BEING LET DOWN FROM HEAVEN BY ITS FOUR CORNERS, AND IT CAME DOWN TO WHERE I WAS. 6 I LOOKED INTO IT AND SAW FOUR-FOOTED ANIMALS OF THE EARTH, WILD BEASTS, REPTILES, AND BIRDS OF THE AIR. 7 THEN I HEARD A VOICE TELLING ME, 'GET UP, PETER. KILL AND EAT.' 8 "I REPLIED, 'SURELY NOT, LORD! NOTHING IMPURE OR UNCLEAN HAS EVER ENTERED MY MOUTH.' 9 "THE VOICE SPOKE FROM HEAVEN A SECOND TIME, 'DO NOT CALL ANYTHING IMPURE THAT GOD HAS MADE CLEAN.' 10 THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, AND THEN IT WAS ALL PULLED UP TO HEAVEN AGAIN. 11 "RIGHT THEN THREE MEN WHO HAD BEEN SENT TO ME FROM CAESAREA STOPPED AT THE HOUSE WHERE I WAS STAYING. 12 THE SPIRIT TOLD ME TO HAVE NO HESITATION ABOUT GOING WITH THEM. THESE SIX BROTHERS ALSO WENT WITH ME, AND WE ENTERED THE MAN'S HOUSE. 13 HE TOLD US HOW HE HAD SEEN AN ANGEL APPEAR IN HIS HOUSE AND SAY, 'SEND TO JOPPA FOR SIMON WHO IS CALLED PETER. 14 HE WILL BRING YOU A MESSAGE THROUGH WHICH YOU AND ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD WILL BE SAVED.' 15 "AS I BEGAN TO SPEAK, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON THEM AS HE HAD COME ON US AT THE BEGINNING.
16 THEN I REMEMBERED WHAT THE LORD HAD SAID: 'JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.' 17 SO IF GOD GAVE THEM THE SAME GIFT AS HE GAVE US, WHO BELIEVED IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS I TO THINK THAT I COULD OPPOSE GOD?" 18 WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, THEY HAD NO FURTHER OBJECTIONS AND PRAISED GOD, SAYING, "SO THEN, GOD HAS GRANTED EVEN THE GENTILES REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE."
PROPOSITION: THE CHRISTIAN WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DISCERN AND INTERACT WITH GOD’S WILL IS A CHRISTIAN WHO IS MISSING THE BLESSING OF OBEDIENCE.
INTRODUCTION: THE TEXT BEFORE US TODAY DEALS WITH THE RECOUNTING OF THE ACTIVITIES OF PETER WHILE HE WAS IN THE HOUSE OF CORNELIUS. WORD OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED HAD MADE IT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM, AND HAD CAUSED A STIR AMONGST THE MEMBERS. PETER NOW TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAS HAPPENED, AND USES THE CONTEXT OF GOD’S WILL AS HIS FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH.
TRANSITION: WHAT I TRUST WE WILL SEE IS THAT THIS PASSAGE IN GENERAL, AND THE ACTIVITY OF PETER SPECIFICALLY REVEAL TO US VALUABLE PRINCIPLES IN DISCERNING GOD’S WILL FOR OUR LIVES, AND GOD’S DIRECTION IN OUR LIVES.
I. THE BIGGEST HINDRANCES TO GOD’S WILL
a. HINDRANCE NUMBER ONE – UNBENDING LEADERSHIP
i. BY THIS I MEAN THOSE WHO ARE IN LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH.
ii. ONCE IN LEADERSHIP, THERE HAS BEEN A SETTLING OF THEIR WAYS TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS AN UNWILLINGNESS AND EVEN A FEAR OF CHANGE.
1. NOTICE THAT IT DID NOT TAKE LONG FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE EARLY CHURCH TO BECOME ENTRENCHED IN THEIR THINKING,, AND THUS THEIR PERCEPTION OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING
iii. JESUS HAD TAUGHT THAT THE GOSPEL WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE JEWS.
1. THE GREAT COMMISSION WAS AL ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL BEYOND THE CONFINES OF JERUSALEM
2. JOHN 10:16 I HAVE OTHER SHEEP THAT ARE NOT OF THIS SHEEP PEN. I MUST BRING THEM ALSO. THEY TOO WILL LISTEN TO MY VOICE, AND THERE SHALL BE ONE FLOCK AND ONE SHEPHERD.
iv. THE LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH – OR AT LEAST A FACTION OF IT WAS FIXATED ON THE “JEWISHNESS” OF THE CHURCH
1. NOTICE THE TERM CIRCUMCISED BELIEVERS.
2. PROBABLY A REFERENCE TO BELIEVERS WHO CONTINUED TO HOLD ONTO THE LAW OF MOSES
3. THEIR THOUGHT WAS THAT YOU HAD TO BE A JEW BEFORE YOU COULD BE A CHRISTIAN!
THE RESULT OF AN UNBENDING LEADERSHIP WAS A HINDRANCE OF THE GOSPEL. JAMES BOICE HAS SAID THAT IF THIS THINKING WERE TO HAVE CONTINUED THEN THE CHURCH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE BEYOND THE REGION OF JERUSALEM.
THIS IS WHY SALVATION BY GRACE IS SO ESSENTIAL!
b. HINDRANCE NUMBER TWO IS A MISDIRECTED FOCUS.
i. THE REAL ISSUE IS THE SALVATION OF GENTILES
ii. THE FOCUSED ISSUE IS THAT PETER “ATE WITH THEM”
iii. THE ISSUE IS NOT THE GOSPEL, THE ISSUE IS BREAKING KOSHER!
iv. EATING IS A SIGN OF ACCEPTANCE AND FELLOWSHIP
1 CORINTHIANS 5:11 BUT NOW I AM WRITING YOU THAT YOU MUST NOT ASSOCIATE WITH ANYONE WHO CALLS HIMSELF A BROTHER BUT IS SEXUALLY IMMORAL OR GREEDY, AN IDOLATER OR A SLANDERER, A DRUNKARD OR A SWINDLER. WITH SUCH A MAN DO NOT EVEN EAT.
v. PETER EATING WITH THE HOUSE OF CORNELIUS WAS HIS ACCEPTANCE OF THEM AS EQUALS, AND THIS FACTION IN THE EARLY CHURCH COULD NOT ABIDE BY THAT.
vi. CLEARLY THEIR FOCUS WAS IN THE WRONG PLACE, AND IT WOULD TAKE PETER TO EXPLAIN AND REDIRECT THEIR FOCUS FROM THEIR OWN PRIORITY AND BELIEF TO WHAT GOD WAS TRYING TO DO!
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CRITICS IN THE CHURCH.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THOSE CRITICAL OF THE WORK OF GOD!
WHAT WE NEED TO GUARD OURSELVES AGAINST IS THE WAY WE RESPOND TO THIS CRITICISM WHEN IT IS LEVELED AGAINST US.
PETER DID NOT ATTACK. PETER EXPLAINED AND EXPOUNDED ON WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THOSE CRITICAL OF PETER WERE CRITICAL WITHOUT HAVING THE FACTS TO BASE THEIR JUDGMENT!
II. UNDERSTANDING HOW GOD COMMUNICATES HIS WILL THROUGH THE RESPONSE OF PETER
a. THE FIRST THING PETER DID WAS STICK TO THE ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
i. WE NEED TO AVOID TRYING TO HELP GOD OUT WITH REGARD TO HIS WILL.
ii. GOD DOES NOT NEED OUR HELP.
1. THE GROUP CASTING CROWNS PERFORMS A SONG WHICH HAS AS PART OF ITS LYRICS THE THOUGHT THAT THE BIGGEST HINDRANCE TO THE GOSPEL IS US AND THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY!
2. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN EVE SOUGHT TO ELABORATE AND ASSIST IN THE REVEALED WILL OF GOD!
b. THE SECOND THING PETER DID IS FOCUS HIS FRAME OF MIND
i. PETER WAS PRAYING
ii. IN OTHER WORDS, PETERS FRAME OF MIND WAS RECEPTIVE TO LEARNING GOD’S WILL.
iii. IT IS A VALID QUESTION TO ASK RIGHT NOW IF WE ARE IN THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND TO LEARN GOD’S WILL? I AM GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS A LITTLE LATER, BUT WANTED TO GET THIS IN YOUR THINKING PROCESS BEFORE WE MOVED ANY FURTHER.
iv. SEE, IF WE WANT TO KNOW GOD’S WILL WE HAVE TO BE IN THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND IN ORDER TO SEEK GOD’S WILL
PSALM 32:8 I WILL INSTRUCT YOU AND TEACH YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO; I WILL COUNSEL YOU AND WATCH OVER YOU.
PSALM 32:8 (KJV) I WILL INSTRUCT THEE AND TEACH THEE IN THE WAY WHICH THOU SHALT GO: I WILL GUIDE THEE WITH MINE EYE.
PSALM 32:8 (MSG) LET ME GIVE YOU SOME GOOD ADVICE; I'M LOOKING YOU IN THE EYE AND GIVING IT TO YOU STRAIGHT:
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU “LOOKED GOD IN THE EYE”?
c. THE THIRD THING PETER DID WAS HIGHLIGHT GOD’S INVOLVEMENT
i. GOD SPEAKS
ii. PETER INTERACTS
iii. GOD TEACHES
iv. PETER GETS THE MESSAGE!
I GUESS IT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO STOP FOR A MOMENT AND ASK, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND? WHAT FRAME OF MIND SHOULD I HAVE IN ORDER TO RESPOND AND ACT UPON GOD’S WILL?
WE NEED TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF WILLING TO DO GOD’S WILL BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT IT IS.
d. THE FOURTH THING PETER DOES (AND I HAVE ALREADY ALLUDED TO IT) IS TO BE IN THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE GOD SPEAKS
i. FOR PETER IT WAS THROUGH A VISION
ii. FOR US TODAY IT IS THROUGH OUR BIBLES
iii. GOD NEVER SPEAKS OR ACTS CONTRARY TO HIS REVEALED WILL. HIS REVEALED WILL IS OUR BIBLES.
iv. EVEN PAUL WOULD CHALLENGE TIMOTHY TO, …
2 TIMOTHY 2:15 DO YOUR BEST TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD AS ONE APPROVED, A WORKMAN WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED AND WHO CORRECTLY HANDLES THE WORD OF TRUTH.
THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE GOD SPEAKS IS IN HIS WORD. WE NEED TO GO TO GOD’S WORD OFTEN IN ORDER TO KNOW HIS WILL.
e. THE FIFTH THING PETER DOES IS INTERPRET HIS CIRCUMSTANCES BASED ON GOD’S WORD
i. PETER IS IN THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND.
ii. PETER IS IN THE STUDY OF GOD’S WORD (TO SAY THE LEAST)!
iii. PETER IS CONFRONTED WITH A SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES
1. THREE MEN
2. RECEPTIVE CROWD
3. IDENTIFICATION WITH PENTECOST
4. THE CORRELATION BETWEEN GOD’S REVEALED WILL (NOTHING UNCLEAN) WITH THE SALVATION OF THE GENTILES (COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT)
f. THE SIXTH THING PETER DOES IS SUBMIT TO THE WILL OF GOD
i. ACTS 11:17 SO IF GOD GAVE THEM THE SAME GIFT AS HE GAVE US, WHO BELIEVED IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS I TO THINK THAT I COULD OPPOSE GOD?"
III. THE CONCLUSION IF WE ARE SEEKING THE LORD – 11:18
a. ACCEPTING WHAT GOD IS DOING
b. PRAISING GOD FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE
c. SEE, THERE ARE NO FAVORITES WITH GOD, ONLY US!
WHAT THIS PASSAGE TEACHES US IS TO:
BE CAREFUL OF OUR OWN UNBENDING ATTITUDE
TO SEEK TO KNOW GOD’S WORD BY BEING IN THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
SEARCHING IN THE RIGHT PLACES
AND EVALUATING OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BASED ON WHAT GOD HAS REVEALED (NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND)!
WORSHIP GOD WHEN WE SEE HIM WORKING HIS WILL IN AND THROUGH US!
