When God Leads

Introduction

Background:

When Jesus came to the earth, the first place that He ministered to, the first people that He offered salvation to were the Israelites. From there, because of the martyr of Stephen, the gospel spread to the region of Samaria.

Once the Gospel spread to Samaria, the man named Saul continued his persecution…but on the road to Damascus to continue his persecution, Saul has a miraculous encounter with Jesus Christ.

This shows us that anyone can be saved

Saul is now God’s chosen witness to the Gentiles.

Now that God has His chosen vessel to deliver His message to the Gentile world, it is time for the Gospel to continue its spread into the uttermost parts of the earth.

Context:

What we see in chapter 10 is exactly that. Peter has the keys to the kingdom of God. Peter is God’s chosen vessel to initiate the coming of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people, and in this chapter, we see God dramatically change Peter’s perspective on the Gospel.

Peter is going to be tasked with bringing the Gospel to Caesarea, a place that the Jews hated. But the truth in today’s message is that The Gospel is for Everyone and discrimination nor racism has any place in the church or in the life of the Christian.

I. How to Recognize God’s Leading

Did you know that God is working in ways that you cannot see and accomplishing things that you cannot understand? Well, He is. And if you will just begin to serve Him, and if you will begin to love Him, you are going to experience some miraculous things in your life.

Now, I’m not talking about miracles….I am talking about coincidences that are unexplained. Often times, God moves in the simplest of ways, but His ways are so simple that you really can’t make it up.

What we like to do is complicate the process. In our minds we consider ourselves smart and capable…but in order to see God, in order to experience Him in your life you have to lay down your understanding and pick up God’s understanding.

Proverbs 3:5–10 NKJV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

We see in this text (Acts 10) that God communicates via angels and in a vision…but more times than not, when it comes to you and me, God is going to communicate through circumstance and through your obedience to Him.

Now, some of you are here today and you’re saying to me, “Dylan, I am genuinely trying to serve God, I just cannot seem to do it.”

Well…then you have a lot to learn from this man named Cornelius.

Obey what God has already said

Acts 10:1–2 NKJV

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

Acts 10:4 NKJV

And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

Look at the character of Cornelius in v. 2

He was dedicated to his responsibilities and he was morally upright, he gave generously to the poor, and he prayed to God religiously.

now v. 4: His financial giving, and His prayers, were so pure and generous, they were so filled with genuine love for God and people, that v. 4 says in became a “memorial before God.”

What does that say about Cornelius?

Even though Cornelius did not have a full revelation from God concerning salvation, concerning Jesus, or concerning the Holy Spirit, Cornelius obeyed what he knew was right.

What this means for us

Being genuine does not mean your saved.

There are some in here, and there are people all over the world that are genuinely trying to do good, but they will die in their sin and will be cast into Hell.

God has revealed parts of Himself to the whole world. (Here are some ways)

God has revealed Himself in human morality.

The only reason there is a difference between right and wrong is because God exists and He has declared it so.

When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, humanity became “like God” understanding morality, the difference between right and wrong, and thus, being guilty of breaking God’s laws when we do things that are morally wrong (lying, lusting, hating).

God has revealed Himself in creation.

Romans 1:20 NKJV

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.

That is, by observing nature and creation, all of humanity can conclude that there is a Creator.

God has revealed Himself by Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:15 NKJV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

God has revealed Himself by His Word.

2 Peter 1:20–21 NKJV

knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 30:5 NKJV

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

If God’s Word says it, it is true, and God has revealed Himself in the Scripture.

So, concerning what the life of Cornelius teaches us…first, being genuine isn’t enough to have salvation. Second, God has revealed parts of Himself to the whole world (morality, creation, Jesus, and His Word) so the world can know Him…finally, God reveals Himself more and more as we obey what He has already commanded.

The Example of Cornelius

Acts 10:3 NKJV

About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

See there, Cornelius, at some point in his life, began a quest for truth.

Cornelius was a centurion. This means that he was an officer over 100 men, and he was in Cesarea to keep the peace and to enforce the law. When he began to observe the Jewish faith, he began to practice it, recognizing that God was the true God.

Acts 10:22 NKJV

And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews.

How did he earn a good reputation?

Acts 10:30 NKJV

So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house”

He also gave to the poor and observed Jewish customs…

He didn’t do these things to earn respect or special favor, he did these things simply because he recognized that he was following what was true.

And because he began following what God said was true, God revealed more of Himself to Cornelius in v. 3 by sending an angel.

But that’s not all God was going to do to reveal Himself…God asked Cornelius to take that next step of faith…God asked for an actionable response.

Acts 10:5–6 NKJV

Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

God says, “If you want the truth, then go and do My will and seek My messenger”.

Don’t lose sight of these two things

God is sovereign and working in ways you cannot see.

If you want to experience God in a deeper capacity, you have to obey the things you already know to be true. God will never give you more unless you do what He has commanded you already.

If you want to experience God’s sovereignty in your life, you have to Obey what God has already commanded…and you also have to:

Allow His Word to Take Priority in your Life

I want you to be honest…there are some things that you believe about how the church should be run, about how you should live, and about what the Bible says, that you have not investigated yourself.

What you’ve done is you have relied on what you were taught to determine what you believe is true, or maybe you rely on what you feel is right to determine what you believe is true.

But, when begin to dig into the Word of God and rely on the Scripture as the source of all truth, there are things in your life that will be revealed as sinful. There are attitudes that will be revealed as unGodly. There are places you go, movies you watch, and music that you listen to that will be revealed as unprofitable for Christian growth. There will be areas of unfaithfulness to God and to the things of God that will reveal themselves to you.

Write the Scriptures down:

Psalm 119:105 NKJV

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

without the word of God, we walk in the dark…walking according to the word of God allows us to see where we are going.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

when you understand and live by God’s word, you will be reproved, corrected, righteous, and complete in your faith.

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Scripture, when you submit to the authority of God’s Word, will reveal your intentions and your heart in ways that you aren’t prepared for.

And this is exactly what happened to the Apostle Peter in v. 9-15

Peter’s Collision with God’s Word

Acts 10:9–15 NKJV

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

Peter thought that this vision what about the food he was going to eat, what he didn’t know is that this vision was about the people God was revealing Himself to.

God was preparing Peter to bring the Holy Spirit to the Gentile world.

Could God have simply delivered the Holy Spirit Himself?

Yes, He could have, and ultimately, He did. We know this because before Peter ever laid his hands on these men or even finished his message the Holy Spirit came and poured Himself out on these Gentiles that Cornelius had gathered.

Acts 10:44 NKJV

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

Why did God send Peter there?

Because God always accomplishes His work through obedient servants.

Because Peter had prejudices and preconceived truths about God that would have prevented him, the rock of the New Testament church, from accepting these Gentile brothers.

Peter was there to confirm to the church that the Great Commission is in its final stage, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Just like Jesus said in Acts 1:8

Peter said to Jesus Christ his Lord, “Not so, Lord! I will not do it because it’s unclean and common, and I am above that…it’s not what I think is right, and I won’t do it…I am too holy for that! I am to full of zeal and passion for the things of God to degrade myself by eating what is unclean and by doing what I don’t think is right!”

Jesus, the Lord of all creation, the Great and Mighty Judge of the Universe very patiently, very loving says to this knucklehead Peter, “Are you so zealous for me that you would disobey what I am commanding? Do not call common what God has called clean.”

The Golden Calf of Religion

This refusal by Peter revealed the golden calf in his life. There was something in Peter’s life that he esteemed higher than the very Word of God.

It’s not uncommon in a church to find that the people in the church esteem the way they do things higher than the Word of God.

It’s not uncommon to have someone justify their lack of faithfulness to what God has clearly commanded them to do and say, “I am not convicted by that.”

It’s not uncommon for people in the church to add extra biblical requirements to other Christians or to equate programs, closets, and stuff to God’s Word.

And its certainly not uncommon for people to point the finger at the group they don’t like and claim that they are so full of religion and not of the Spirit, without ever asking God to reveal the golden calves in their own life.

Jesus says something about that… it comes in Matthew 7:3-5

Matthew 7:3–5 NKJV

And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

If you are going to make a charge against someone or something in this church, you better have book, chapter, and verse, and you better have the correct context and understanding, so that you won’t fall under judgement by God.

Peter had a collision with God’s Word. Peter esteemed himself too righteous to obey God…oh the irony!

For you to experience God’s Sovereignty in your life…you need to obey what He has already said…and you must allow His Word to Take priority in your life, despite what you believe or how you feel. When you do those things, you will experience His plans all coming together in a way that is so simple, yet miraculous.

Recognize God’s Movement and Respond

One thing we may do is get into our minds that we know how things should go. This is a dangerous thing to do because we can be so narrowly focused that God has to squeeze us into accomplishing His will.

How does He do that?

Sometimes, He just allows us to follow our own plan and bring chaos and ruin to our lives, then just slowly prods us along until we get into His will when we give up.

Another way He does this is conviction through the preaching of His word. That’s why it’s important to be in church.

It’s not that I am a great preacher or you need to hear what I have to say, it’s just that I am preaching a perfect word, amen?

Yet another way is that He removes obstacles from our life.

If you love your job more than Him, you might get a layoff. If you love your things more than Him, they might get tossed away. Whatever you place above God, it runs the risk of being destroyed because He won’t share His bride with another lover.

One thing you have to be careful of with this point is that you don’t use this as an excuse for your mismanagement or bad choices. If you lose money because you made a bad investment, that’s your fault. If you lose your family because you commit adultery or some other sin, it’s your fault. If you lose your job because you didn’t show up on time, your fault.

So, it’s true that God does remove things from us, but most times its option 1 or 2.

Allowing us to do what we want, or conviction through His word.

Still, God may squeeze us, but He never forces us to return…He just does His part to show us that we need Him.

Not only does God squeeze us into following His will…sometimes, God clearly gives us a command that we don’t understand what He means until He moves.

What do we do in this case?

1. Dwell on what God has said.

Acts 10:17–18 NKJV

Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

God has already began to enact His plan for both Cornelius and Peter. If Peter would have put what God said out of his mind, then he wouldn’t have considered it anything when God’s plan comes to fruition.

Now, God’s plan in getting Peter there was in Peter’s mind, but the overall command that God gave in Acts 1:8, it seems like Peter has forgotten.

Just for context, where we are in the timeline of the Bible is about 7-8 years from where we were in Acts 1:8…but in Acts 1:8 Jesus says that the power of the Holy Spirit would eventually move to the uttermost parts of the world…yet, in v. 29 of Acts 10, Peter seems to have forgotten.

Acts 10:28–29 NKJV

[Peter] said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

Peter knew that God commanded him to accept the Gentiles, Peter did not realize that the Holy Spirit was going to fill them.

When we forget the commands that God has given us, then we miss what He is doing in real time.

2. Be Sensitive to the Holy Spirit

Acts 10:19–20 NKJV

While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

How can you be sensitive to the Holy Spirit?

You must: Recognize that He is real and Personal

I don’t want you to get the idea that the Holy Spirit is just an abstract idea or some sort of impersonal force.

Right here we have the Holy Spirit communicating with Peter. v. 19 says, “the Spirit said to Him.”

The Holy Spirit is real and active, and He is just as much God as the Father is God.

The role of the Holy Spirit in the Godhead, just like the role of the Son and the Father, is unique. The Bible says that the job of the Holy Spirit is to glorify and to bear witness of Jesus Christ.

Look at the timeline of the passage.

First, God issues the commandment in the Heavenly places. Jesus says in v. 15, “What God has cleansed you must not call common…”

then, Jesus gives the command to His disciple Peter through a vision.

then, the Holy Spirit communicates when it’s time to move.

That is, the Holy Spirit was instructing Peter to carry out what God already declared. The Holy Spirit, though He is God and person, does not act on His own initiative. He acts as God wills and moves.

Notice in v. 20 what the Holy Spirit says to Peter…

“go with them; doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

In God’s proper timing, and according to the command that Jesus gave, the Holy Spirit has directed Cornelius’s men to go and find Peter, and then the Holy Spirit confirms that to Peter.

Alright…number one, recognize that the Holy Spirit is real and active, that He is God, and that He communicates on a personal level.

You must also: Live in holiness and in purity.

What’s the number one ingredient to pure and holy living? - the thought life.

Look at what Peter was doing when the Holy Spirit contacted Him.

v. 19 says that he was “thinking about the vision”. Literally, v. 19 reads, “The Spirit said to Peter, as he was (reflecting on) or as he was (revolving in his mind) the vision, and said, ‘Behold, there are men looking for you.’”

What is the most significant part of the vision?

The most significant part of the vision what that Jesus Christ spoke to Peter and gave Peter a truth and an action to perform.

All that to say, if you want to live in holiness and in purity so you can be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, then you must keep your mind on the things of God.

Colossians 3:1–2 NKJV

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

To keep purity and holiness in your life, make your mind a revolving door of scripture.

Because, if your mind is always on the things of God, then your mind can’t get distracted by the flesh or by the things on earth.

1. Recognize the Holy Spirit is real and personal. 2. Keep your mind pure and holy before God.

And, you must: Be willing to listen to the Holy Spirit

3. Respond Immediately

Acts 10:21–23 NKJV

Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

You can hear what God is saying, and you can have this miraculous encounter with the Holy Spirit, but none of that matters if you don’t obey.

You know that you can actually miss what God is trying to accomplish because you’re too slow to respond?

You might can procrastinate and your spouse deal with it and your employer let it slide…but when you procrastinate what God is telling you to do you are making an eternal decision to disobey what He is saying.

When God tells you to move, do it then. What He says in His word, we must obey…when He leads us to share our faith, we have to share it in faith.

You must share it in faith that you carry an advocate with you, and He is the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

You need to begin to obey what God has already said in the Scripture.

God will not increase your understanding of the Scripture or your faith in Him unless you are obedient to Him in what He has said in His word.

You need to allow His word to take priority in your life.

It’s not good enough to rely on what you know, what you’ve been taught, or your opinions. You must rely on His word.

You need to recognize that God is working everywhere all the time, and respond to what He is doing not to what you think needs to be done.

You do this by making your mind a revolving door of scripture and prayer, by being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leading, and by responding when the Holy Spirit moves.

Church, there are no shortcuts to holiness.

The only thing standing in the way of you growing closer to God is disobedience.