The Church on Mission Brings the Gospel into the Home

Intro

Title of the series

Title of today’s message

1. God shows no partiality

Acts 10:9–16 ESV

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

First - let me point out that when Peter had this vision, he had gone up to the rooftop to pray. Obviously we are not the Apostle Peter, and God does not use dramatic visions like this every time we pray.... but… may I suggest to you, that:

“those who humbly seek the Lord in unhindered and unhurried prayer experience great blessing.”

So… Peter is commanded to kill and eat these different animals, even the ones forbidden in for God’s people to eat.

Now, Peter doesn’t understand the symbolism of this vision yet, but these unclean animals symbolize God’s cleansing of the unclean Gentiles.

Peter refuses to obey the command 3 times… he has a history of 3-time rejection followed by affirmation by the way!

You see… food restrictions had long isolated the Jews from the Gentiles but God was now breaking down that wall.

God shows no partiality.... his desire is that ALL people would be saved.

He wants us to live like that as well.

Is there a certain type of person that you struggle with, don’t want to be around, or just flat out don’t like?

Is it someone from a:

certain race?

certain culture,?

certain economic status?

If there is any prejudice in your heart at all… it cannot be that way!

when i was young, i feel like we would hear about things in school and watch movies that would show us how bad things USED to be… but today it seems like we are a more divided people than ever.... over just about everything!

as believers… as people who have experienced God’s grace, mercifully poured out on us… we must have nothing but LOVE for all people and a sincere desire for ALL people to hear God’s Gospel message.

God shows no partiality, and as His people neither can we.

2. God is Lord of ALL Nations

One of the reasons is such a huge passage as you’re reading through the Bible is that this is the moment we’ve been waiting for!

think about it...

“in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”

Story of Ruth the Moabite

Numerous Psalms talk about all the earth or all the nations worshipping God

Prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi all talk about the Nations worshipping God or being saved by God like this one in:

– “On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples,

It continues in the New Testament with passages in all 4 of the Gospels talking about God’s desire for the Nations… for all people.

At the end of Matthew Jesus gives his disciples the Great Commission telling them to “go and make disciples of ALL nations...”

Then in he tells them that they will be “His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Last week in we learned that Jesus told Ananias to go lay his hands on Saul because Saul was his chosen instrument to take his name to the Gentiles.

And finally! here we are in … and we get to see a Gentile.... a non-Jew come to salvation through faith in Jesus.

let’s meet this guy… back up to verse 1

Acts 10:1–8 ESV

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

couple of things:

Cornelius was a centurion living in Caesarea

Roman army in Palestine was stationed there. As a centurion he led around 100 soldiers and was paid at least 5 times that of a normal soldier. He was a leader… and well repected

He was praying… just like Peter was… when he received this vision

Cornelius was a good man… a religious man… he prayed… he gave offerings.... but he was not a regenerate man. he was like Nicodemus.... who came to Jesus and was told that even though he did all these good things.... he must be born again. Salvation comes from putting your faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:9–16 ESV

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.

Acts 10:17–23a ESV

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

acts 10

Peter’s hospitality to invite these guys in may not seem like a big deal but it was.... Tony Merida says, “this was a HUGE gospel moment!”

Peter and others are now being converted out of the thinking that the Good News is for the Jews alone.

why? because...

God is Lord of ALL nations!

3. The Church on Mission brings the Gospel into the Home

The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

Acts 10:23b–29 ESV

23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Acts 10:30–33 ESV

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Acts 10:30-33

Cornelius was ready to hear a message from the Lord… and he wasn’t content to hear it by himself. He got everyone important to him into the house that day because he believed this message would be life changing.

We know it was because in ch. 11 when Peter is telling the disciples what happened with Cornelius and his family, we hear another detail about the vision to Cornelius...

Acts 11:13–14 ESV

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.’

Acts 11:

That’s why Cornelius made sure everyone was there! Because when you know you’re going to hear a message “by which you will be saved” then you bring the family along!

Leaders of families here today.... when you know the Gospel message will save you and all your household.... you get the Gospel into your home!!!

Matthew Henry, “Turn your families into little churches.”

“Since the church is comprised of family units - - singles to large families and everything in between - - if the homes are changed through family worship, the church will be changed.”

One author said, “This must be our true heart’s desire: that our children might set their hope in God and that they would teach their own children in turn. And that they would set their hope on God and teach their children and on and on it goes.”

New Living Translation (NLT)

Acts 11:13–14 ESV

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.’

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.

Closing

Discussion with Rob, Merideth & Brooke

books !!!

Prayer