Sermon (15-Jan): "Peter's AHA Moment" Acts 10:34-43

Scripture:

Acts 10 (SLIDE)

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,

40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Big Idea:

The objective of this message is to be mindful of those moments God seeks to show us our blindspots

(SLIDE) What’s an AHA Moment Anyways?

- Back in 2012, Oprah Winfrey helped to establish a word in the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the “Aha Moment”

- It is officially defined as (SLIDE)

"A moment of sudden inspiration, insight, recognition or comprehension”

- If you happen to be anything like me, there are a number of those different moments that come to my mind

- Maybe it was the moment that I realized that I cannot spend more money than I had coming in

-Or, was it the moment I realized that in order to support my family that coming into the Air Force was better than working two part time jobs

- Or, quite possibly, the moment that I realize that insanity was doing the same thing over and over again would bring about different results

- It's these times, the AHA moments, that I like to look at as (SLIDE)

the Awareness that Heightens Adjustment (our need to adjust) to mature

- When I think of those moments, I've come to realize that we don't necessarily get there on our own

- As intelligent, enlightened, or self-sufficient we believe that we are;

- There will be times that it takes another person or perhaps a community to help us

- And, where do we need help?

- For us to change and, or adjust to where God undoubtedly wants to take us,

- There's no way we can do it in and of ourselves alone

- Despite our best efforts,

- We are an interdependent people - in need of each other and of God

- That's what Peter experiences in today's text

- His AHA moment directly affects us today

- The Bible, the New Testament particularly,

- It tells us that there are two groups of people - the Jewish people and Gentiles of which we happen to be

- So, what Peter must come to grips with is his former understanding of God’s grace, love and favor no longer apply

- The idea of God doing a new thing was coming into view rather clearly now

- The thought that God’s salvation plan and His way of doing things was not just for the Jewish people

- God was now targeting the entire world: every creed, nation and people group

- Just as it should be

- As with Peter, sometimes God shows us how different our perspective is from His

- Whether we agree with it or not, God is not partial

- In other words, God does not show favoritism

Transition: Unfortunately, that’s where Peter erred

Peter’s story shows me that I need to be open/aware of my own partiality (SLIDE)

- One thing that I find interesting about the Bible is that it not just gives you “spiritual” principles but life principles

- That’s why I am convinced that it’s not just a history book or full of good stories

- But, the Bible is meant to be life changing on so many different levels

- In the Book of Proverbs (Pro 18:17; NIV), look at what it says (SLIDE),

17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

- But, look at the Message translation (SLIDE),

17 The first speech in a court case is always convincing—until the cross-examination starts!

- As I think back over the past decade, I think back to where I didn’t hear both sides out fully;

- What can happen is you end up forming a bias and possibly that result in partiality

- Thank God for change!

- Now, if I haven’t already taken into consideration that there are at least three sides to every story

- I’m reminded not to jump to conclusions—what psychologists call a cognitive bias

- I think of Peter’s vision earlier in the chapter (Acts 10:9-16)

- Peter gets hungry and falls into a trance—some type of euphoric moment

- In that moment, God shows Peter himself if you will

- It’s always a humbling experience when God shows you yourself

- Times when you go into a situation with your mind made up concerning a subject…

- Only to find out that you had it all wrong

- Either the WHOLE story wasn’t shared or…

- You misinterpreted the story

- It’s not usually fun either

- In our or my rush to judgment regarding the situation,

- I missed the boat

- So now, rather cautiously, I try to go in eyes wide open considering the vast amount of intricacies of a situation

- I consider that only God has the whole picture made up of a thousand pieces

- While at best, I may at best have a few pieces

- And, that’s across the board—

- Across many areas in our life

- I’ve learned to be comfortable with that

- Being comfortable that we don’t have to know the whole story

- I’m comfortable that there will be times that I am not fully in the know

- It could professional or personal…I’d rather do my best to do all that I can and let God handle what I can’t

- To be short and to the point,

“Do your best and let God do the rest”

- Compared to finding out that there was something more I could have been done

Transition: So, what about you? We all have a story or maybe you can relate…

Have you noticed something similar in your life? [SLIDE]

- Of course, it may not be exactly like mine

- Maybe you have instances where you prejudged a person or situation

- When you read this particular account of Peter,

- Initially, he is shown “kinds of four-footed animals…and reptiles and birds”

- Then, we see when he meets up with Cornelius and his family

- Peter discerns that this was not about unclean animals

- Peter now sees that he has been looking at this all wrong

- God wasn’t just interested in the Jewish people

- No, God had a global plan in mind

- Something that was bigger than Peter, the disciples and even us

- To be truthful, we see that Peter did have to get called out later on down the line by Paul the Apostle

- But it wasn’t something that God hadn’t already shown him before

- Still, how are we taking those lessons that God is showing us every day…

- And correlating and discerning what God want to do in other areas

- Life principles learned are never a one and done deal

- If we choose to accept it, we’re going to be learners the rest of our life—students of life

- And, when we allow God to teach us…that’s the best experience

- John Maxwell once said (SLIDE),

“Experience isn’t the best teacher, evaluated experience is.”

- But, I like to look at it as when we evaluate our experience based on God’s Word and what He shows us

- That’s when we embark on growth and change

- Sometimes growth is not easy and neither is change

- Still, we become the better because of both

- Many of us can look back over our lives and see areas that helped us to grow;

- Times where we may not have liked what was happening

- And look at where you are today…

- You may not have arrived but you’ve grown

- And, you’re able to pass on what you learned in the process to family, friends, significant others, children—young and old

- Each of our stories are still being written—page by page and chapter by chapter

- This chapter for Peter is very significant

- He learned a lot at the right hand of Jesus

- And to do the “greater works” that Jesus said he and the disciples would perform would require a learning curve

- Peter learned first-hand from Jesus and even witnessed things that some of the other disciples didn’t see

- Those things that he saw and learned were orchestrated by God

- Similarly, it’s not far fetched to think that God knows every detail about our lives and has worked behind the scenes

- God plans and strategizes better than any person can imagine

- If he knows the minute details of the universe, he knows the minute details of your life

- Jesus said it better than I can, (Matt 10:30; Luke 12:7)

“the very hairs of your head are all numbered”

- Even a few of those we may have lost along the way

- Peter helps us to realize that his error was not beyond forgiveness or God’s grace

- Although you may argue that he should have known better,

Transition: Thankfully, not only is God forgiving and graceful; He also shows us how we can follow His leading

God’s work is bigger than you or I can imagine [SLIDE]

- You and I limit God when we think that we know His whole plan and way of doing things

- God is infinitely greater than us and His plan has been crafted before the foundation of the world

- He knew Adam and Eve before they knew each other

- He had plans to deliver His people from Pharoah before He gave Moses the plan

- And, He knew that His plan to save the “whosoever” regardless of ethnicity or culture

- God’s interest is the “true Israel—the children of promise” as Paul calls it

- Paul in preaching to the Romans (9:25-26) was the one who would call the prophet Hosea’s words to mind, (Hosea 2:23) (SLIDE),

“I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.”

- So, Peter realizes that it’s not up to Him to decide who is clean or unclean—accepted or not accepted by God

- His part is to be faithful to what God has called him to do in this moment

- His AHA moment allows him to swallow what He thought he knew to advance what God wanted

- God also speaks through Hosea (Hos 1:10) saying (SLIDE),

“And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

- Originally, when God was speaking through Hosea, He was speaking to Israel

- Yet, Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, perceived the great work God had in mind for us and the Gentiles as a whole

Transition: Paul perceived it and Peter recognized that God doesn’t show favor or partiality the way that mankind tends to do

Every so often, we need to ask ourselves the question, “Am I being impartial in this matter? Also, in my life…regularly and consistently? (SLIDE)

- It would seem like it would go without question

- But self-reflection and evaluation is a necessity—both inside and outside the church

- I like what famous NCAA college coach John Wooden had to say (SLIDE),

“Without proper self-evaluation, failure is inevitable.”

- Now, as I say this, sometimes there’s a hard truth that we have to face about ourselves

- Know this when you are evaluating yourself—God knows the worst about you and that hasn’t deterred Him from loving you

- The idea behind the self-evaluation is to invite God’s Spirit in to challenge us where we miss the mark

- It’s not to condemn us to Hell

- God is in the restoration business—for you, me and the whosoever will come

- So, where we are being partial…He wants us to grow and change

- Think about it, if He did it in Paul—there’s not too many too far gone

- He is interested in transforming and conforming us to the image of His Son Jesus Christ

- We get the benefits of a transformed life that’s maturing in the fruits of the Spirit

- He gets the benefit of another delivered soul out of the hands of the enemy

- It’s up to us to act because God is always willing to do His part

Transition: We can be comforted in knowing this—it’s only impossible when we attempt to do it on our own

We benefit in our weakness when we rely on His strength (SLIDE)

- No doubt, it’s respectable to have a strong work ethic

- It’s ridiculous to feel that strong, natural work ethic can achieve great, godly spiritual growth or salvation

- When God adds His super onto our natural, the supernatural takes place

- Jesus said that it was necessary for Him to go away because He could only be in one place at one time

- Now, His Spirit can go with each of us in multiple places without compromising His power or effectiveness

- He promised to send the Comforter—Advocate—His Spirit (John 16:7)

- Still, it seems like we seldom rely on His Spirit and power

- I know that I cannot do anything unless He empowers me to do it

- And, I still know that I can call on Him more

- The sooner and more willing we are to submit ourselves to Him; the better off we will be in the long run

- I think of my early days and how hesitant—how stubborn—I was to change

- Now, I think if it weren’t for the grace of God where would I be

- When I was faithless, He remained and still remains faithful

Closing:

- What if we surrendered our hang ups, hesitancies, and arguments to Him trusting Him to accept and lead us

- We’d have changed lives

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I ask you to forgive me for all of my sins known and unknown, I renounce them all. Lord Jesus, come into my heart. I receive you now as Lord and Savior of my life. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He died for me and arose and sits at the right hand of God praying for me, interceding for me. Lord Jesus, I give you everything. I thank you for saving me, delivering me and setting me free, in Jesus’ name!