Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
When I was younger, my older brother Tim and I had some friends who lived on the edge of a huge old lava flow.
The entire area was volcanic rock.
Over the years that they lived out there, we explored far out into the lava beds.
Eventually we discovered a fresh spring water pond and, farther out, a cool rock formation we dubbed castlegate.
There was only one problem with hiking out there.
The problem was that we never seemed to be able to take the same route twice.
We would follow parts of the same trail and eventually get off it and end up with walls of manzanita bushes between us and our destination.
This forced us to constantly batter our way through these barriers.
In order to get where we needed to go, there were barriers that had to be removed.
When I was younger my older brother Tim and I had some friends who lived on the edge of a huge old lava flow.
The entire area was volcanic rock.
Over the years that they lived out there, we explored far out into the lava beds.
Eventually we discovered a fresh spring water pond and, farther out, a cool rock formation we dubbed castlegate.
There was only one problem with hiking out there.
The problem was that we never seemed to be able to take the same route twice.
We would follow parts of the same trail and eventually get off it and end up with walls of manzanita bushes between us and our destination.
This forced us to constantly batter our way through these barriers.
In order to get where we needed to go, there were barriers that had to be removed.
Life has barriers.
There are things between us and where God wants us to be.
These barriers must be removed.
What we see in Acts chapter 10 is how
God Removes The Barriers To Conversion 10:17-33
Peter has barriers in his Jewish mind.
God is breaking them down.
God is removing the barriers that are hindering the proclamation of the gospel.
This passage teaches us of two types of barriers that must be removed before the gospel can be proclaimed.
Our challenge today is to remove the barriers to the gospel.
When the barriers are removed, boldly proclaim Jesus Christ.
Peter has just seen this vision of the sheet and the unclean animals.
Three times he has been told that what God has cleansed he must not call common or unclean.
This proclamation is God’s method of facilitating…
1.
The Removal Of Mental Barriers vv.
17-23a
Have you ever had a mental block about something?
For me it is usually a name I am trying to remember.
The harder I try the worse it gets.
Sometimes we can have a mental block about an activity or food or group of people.
Before we can do that activity, eat that food, or fellowship with that group of people, the barrier has to come down.
Peter has a mental barrier that is preventing him from sharing the gospel with Gentiles.
Yet in we learned that it s God's plan to include Gentiles.
Therefore, Peter’s mental barrier has to go.
This is accomplished through two means.
First…
a.
By the Holy Spirit’s command vv.
17-20
READ v. 17
This is what we call divine timing.
Peter is contemplating his vision.
And by coincidence, the men sent from Cornelius just happen to show up at Simon’s gate.
READ v. 18
Calling out in a loud voice they ask if Simon Peter is staying there.
I know we have mentioned it before, but allow me to once again point out God’s sovereignty here.
He used Peter’s healing ministry to bring him to Joppa.
He had him stay with a tanner.
God is working on Peter’s heart!
At the same time God directs Cornelius to send men to Peter.
Folks, the God who orchestrated these events has His sovereign hands on our lives.
My life, and your life are being directed by the sovereign hand of Almighty God!
We must trust that He has a destination in mind and He is lovingly and carefully moving us toward it.
2. By the men’s arrival vv.
17b-18
READ v.19
Peter is reflecting on the vision when the Spirit speaks to him with a very strange message.
3 men are seeking him.
But the Holy Spirit continues speaking and explains why, we’ll look at that in a second.
First, let’s contemplate a question.
Is this (HS speaking) normative?
No. Why? Peter is an Apostle.
Acts is formative.
We have the Word.
We don’t need the HS to tell us to help a homeless person, we are told to do good to all men! Especially fellow believers!
READ v. 20
Peter is given four commands.
Arise.
This is a practical command.
He has to get up.
Go down.
This too is practical.
He was already planning to go down so he could eat.
Go with them.
This is where things start to get problematic.
Peter doesn’t know who is down there.
He hasn’t been told!
How can God command Peter to go with these men when Peter has no idea who they are!
But the Spirit isn’t done yet.
Doubting nothing.
I picture Peter thinking, “Well, I wasn’t doubting until you said that!”
The fact that the Holy Spirit tells Peter not to doubt indicates that there is reason to doubt!
1.
By the Spirit’s explanation v. 19
When difficulties and trials arise, we are going to be tempted to doubt!
When life doesn’t go as planned, we doubt.
When that promotion doesn’t happen, we doubt.
When our friends reject us, we doubt.
When our children rebel, we doubt.
When our spouse treats us poorly, we doubt.
As fallen, sinful, human beings; doubt comes naturally.
However, we are not to walk in the natural man!
Before Peter can start to doubt, the Spirit reveals the purpose behind these commands.
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