Acts 11:1-18- Prayer Makes Disciples
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Prayer Makes Disciples
Prayer Makes Disciples
1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying,
3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order:
5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.
6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’
10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;
14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
—> This is a repeat of Ch. 10
—> Luke is giving an ENORMOUS amount of space to this story.
1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying,
3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
—> Peter is being put on “trial” because it was an abomination for a Jew to eat with a gentile. There were only a very limited amount of occasions where it was possible for a Jew to enter a Gentiles house.
—> Who you ate with and who you associated with were very important for this legalistic minded people.
—> (SNU Cafeteria, Beth and Matt West)
—> vrs. 3 Missions isn’t natural
—> They are mad that he is letting others into the circle.
—> The #1 thing I hear is that it is hard to talk to people we don’t know.
—> As people we don’t accept change well, even when it is for the better.
—>
—> Even when its God that wants us to change our minds and our hearts.
4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order:
5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.
:
—> Amazing things/changes start with prayer.
—> God things start with prayer.
—> Personal Prayer
—> Corporate Prayer
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther
—> Peter wasn’t praying alone he was praying with the other believers in Joppa
7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
:
—> God speaks what God wants to speak not what we want or even expect to hear.
—> Do you think you may miss God’s voice or call because you are looking for one certain response?
(the grocery store/Mary Ann in the parking lot)- not what/who we were expecting and we don’t recognize them.
—> Are we open to WHATEVER God has to say and are we intently listening?
8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
—> NO God! That’s not how I do it.
—> That’s not how this is done.
—> I don’t do things that way.
—> I’ve/We’ve never done it that way. Never!
—> Is tradition stoping you from listening to God?
—> Peter is putting up the “Good Jew” defense here
—> He is so focused on the legalism and the pride he’s found in it, he can’t see anything else.
—> What defense do you use when God tells you to do something uncomfortable, something new?
9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’
Acts 11:
—> God says “I’m telling you what is right, don’t tell me I’m wrong.”
—> Where do we get this idea that we know more than God?
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:
—> God knows what is best, because God is best.
10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
Acts 11:10-
—> Peter moves with the Spirit
—> Trust the God and the Holy Spirit to make the right moves.
9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’
13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;
14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;
14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;
14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
God calls us to do something...
Acts 11:
—> Vrs 13 —> God not only prepares us he prepares the field.
We use tradition, and pride to tell Him we can’t
—> When the moment comes will we answer the call of God or listen to ourselves?
—> Will we let the Holy Spirit lead us or will we continue to be our own blind guide?
—> God wants to work through us to accomplish His mission but we have to get out of the way.
Acts 11:
18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
—> What kind of Christian will you choose to be?
Who are we to tell God what is clean and unclean, what is right and wrong,
—> Vrs. 3
2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying,
3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
—> vrs 18
18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
—> Missions isn’t easy
—> Doing things in God’s timing and in God’s way aren’t always the easy things to do but they are awe inspiring when they happen.
—> They are praiseworthy when they happen.
—> They are world changing when they happen.
—> But they don’t happen by accident
—> Prayer changes the world