The God's Leading (2)

20201101_Acts 10v9-16_The God's leading (2)

Acts 10:9–16 (NIV)

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.

# Introduction

Nowadays, we live in very fast changing world.

The speed of changing is so fast that we don’t know what will happen in future.

Especially, we are living in Corona Virus ages and 4th industrial revolution.

It is totally new era (이!어러).

We have never experienced such an era.

So, we don’t know what will happen.

Just many people guess what will happen. But it is not real but just guess.

Anyway, we are living in confusion and in worry.

In this time, what do we need most?

Most of all, we need the leading of God.

If God lead our life, we will be safe and we will find the right way.

So today, let’s see about the leading of God.

# Body

At first, let’s see about the God’s leading.

In the Bible, we can see how God lead his people.

At first, God sent his angel to his people in reality or dream.

And then, the angel who is messenger spoke the will of God to people.

Second, God sent this servant to his People to speak the will of God.

So many prophet came to the land and spoke the will of God.

And then they wrote God’s will in the Bible.

Anyway, God sent his messenger to people and

God made people know his will.

If people know the will of God,

What should they do?

People should follow to the God’s leading.

It is the best way.

# Today’s bible

Let’s see today bible.

Last Sunday, we looked at the story of Cornelius.

When he was sleep, he saw a vision from God.

The angel of God said to him,

‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. (Ac 10:31)

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

6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” (Ac 10:5-6)

So Cornelius sent his servant to Peter.

The following day, before the servants arrived to Peter,

Peter went up on the roof to pray.

In the prayer time, God showed a trance to Peter.

In a trance, Peter saw very strange scene.

From the heaven, a large sheet came down to land.

It contains all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds.

And a voice told him,

“Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

Peter replied,

14 “Surely not, Lord!” “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

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.

After awaking, Peter was wondering the meaning of trance.

Because It was so clear that Peter though it was something God showed.

So Peter was thinking why God showed the vision.

At that time, The Holy Spirit said to Peter,

““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.”

At that time, the servant of Cornelius arrived to the house of Peter and said about the story of Cornelius.

Finally, Peter understood why God showed the trance.

Actually, At that time,

The Jews did not meet with the Gentile.

Because of their religious reason.

But through the trance,

Peter realized the will of God.

So he went to the house of Cornelius.

And when Peter spoke about Jesus Christ,

To be surprised,

The Holy Spirit came upon him and his family.

Through the experience,

Peter realized the will of God.

What is that?

God wants to save the Gentiles as well as the Jews.

So God made the event between Cornelius and Peter.

# Why Cornelius and Peter?

In this story,

You may have some questions.

Why did God showed the vision to Cornelius and Peter?

Because

Cornelius is the first Gentile receiving The Holy Spirit and

Through the event,

The Jews Christian could know the will of God toward the Gentile.

And God selected Peter among many people.

Why Peter?

Because only Peter could change the stereotype (스테!리어타입) in the Jews society.

At that time, the Jews thought that the gentile cannot have salvation. Only the Jews can receive the salvation.

So they did not preach the gospel to the gentile.

Their mind was so stiff,

No one change their mind except Peter.

Why Peter?

He is the leader of the early church.

His influence was so great.

So God selected Peter and God showed the will of God toward the Gentile.

# Lesson

Today, we showed how God leaded Peter and Cornelius.

It is amazing story.

Let’s see the lessons.

1. Sometimes, a God’s leading does not fit for our will.

At that time, we need to follow the God’s will.

For example, look at the prayer of Jesus in Geth·sem·a·ne. (게스세!머니)

Before a day of the execution of the Cross,

Jesus went to the mountain to pray to God.

And

Matthew 26:39 (NIV)

39 Jesus fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Always, Jesus followed to the God’s will.

We need to have the mind.

Actually, our mind cannot see the whole situation.

So we don’t know the best way in a situation

But God is almighty and he knows everything.

God knows what is the best in our life.

Only God can lead our life in the best.

Therefore, let’s follow to the God’s way.

Next,

How can we know the will of God?

Let's think when Peter and Cornelius received the God’s message.

What they have in common is that

When they pray to God,

God showed them his message.

God leaded them.

In the same way,

We also need to pray to God to have the leading from God.

Without prayer,

We don’t know the leading of God.

And

Even if God sends his message, we cannot recognize it without prayer.

Therefore, If we want to know the leading of God,

With all our heart, with all our mind, and with all our strength.’

Let’s pray to God.

If So,

God will show you His leading!