Origins:

A Paradigm Shift

Cornelius Calls for Peter

Who is Cornelius…

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

A roman soldier… Roman family name which possibly derives from the Latin element cornu "horn". In Acts in the New Testament Cornelius is a centurion who is directed by an angel to seek Peter. ... The name was also borne by a few early saints, including a 3rd-century pope.

3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.

4Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 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. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.

6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 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. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 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. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

7 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. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

God’s movement to change Cornelius’ life…

What God tells him to do...

3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.

6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 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. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

The Holy Spirit Connects Peter with Cornelius

God’s movement to change Peter’s paradigm...

par·a·digm - a typical example or pattern of something; a model.

par·a·digm -a set of linguistic items that form mutually exclusive choices in particular syntactic roles.

Preparation before… A vision in 3 parts God had to repeat Preparing the heart of Peter to trust God Actions and belief… What occurs when they follow through What if it doesn't work out? Outcomes through the HS… Open's a door of salvation not just to the Jewish/Israelite The whole world is welcomed in based on the condition of their heart

Peter’s Vision

9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.

13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times,

and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 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.18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”

What is God doing currently change the way you look at someone or something?

God, like much of the time, had to purposely shift peters mind. He would do this More than once, but three times he would give him the same dream to help him see differently.

Why?

What is God doing currently to change the way you look at someone or something?

Paying attention to the conversations happening…

Hearing God’s heart to grow and disciple within us...

And take that strength and reach beyond us…

How is God setting up a divine encounter?

23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.

24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Cornelius House: God needed to shift their minds? What dreams do we need to make room for, so that God’s Word is understood in us?

In what way does God need to shift our minds? What dreams do we need to make room for what God needs to accomplish?

With his mind opened…

Cornelius House: He was doing Godly steps even before Peter came.

He was doing Godly steps even before Peter came.

We don't act Godly only when certain people are around .

Note: Clearly God is watching us. Our actions bring reaction from Him.

God was doing change in Peter, again what is known as a paradigm shift.

The outlook for our entire culture has defined the way that they treated people and the way we treat others.

God was wanting make a shift in our minds that we may correctly Love, reach out to others and minister to… Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the Earth.

THIS PARADIGM SHIFT… is what I have seen…

God is done in the heart of Greg and Rachel is a paradigm shift. It's a way of pointing them in a different direction by carrying the same heart that we have loved being here. And as hard as it is it is a shift for them that will cause great results in the lives of others.

My heart hurts to see them go. But on a large level I am excited for the possibilities and the potential of where they are headed as God uses calling that is been getting to be refined in who they are, what He wants them to do. A calling to Rachel in music and worship crying out to God. Calling in Greg where he loves on people and also uses the way he sees the future and the steps in which he ministers to them in a powerful way.

In what ways is God wanting to shift and pour into your context and calling?

In what ways does God want to use what's already in your hands to then refine it to help it continue to become all that He is called YOU to be.

The greatest calling he is given us is love, and if we live out of that heart God will clearly teach, inspire, and move us to redefining us so we take another step in the life he is called us to.

It does not always mean transition from one location to another, but it does mean a changing of our hearts that as He leads we follow. As we see God move we don’t hesitate to believe.

REGARDLESS OF CONTEXT… When God shows us dreams (maybe even 3 times like Peter) He then uses it to guide us, empower us, lead us.

THE NEXT PHASE…

What happens in Cornelius’ house?

Peter’s willingness....

Cornelius’ actions, character, and life...

A perfect mix for God’s moment of change

Ever have a bad mix in things…

FIND bad mixes that funny…