Where do I Stand?
Rebuild, Renew and Restore • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsAs a result of Peter's explanation to the council of Jeresulem we will ask ourselves "Where do I stand? Am I in God's way? Or am I being a facilitator for what God is doing around me?" Three different perspectives: the questioning council, the advocating apostle or the gifted Gentiles. Where do I stand?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Theme of Rebuild, Renew and Restore
Books of Ezra and Nehemiah
Rebuilding of God’s kingdom within and through his people.
Gospel of Luke
Renewing and restoring of God’s relationship with us through his life, sacrifice and resurrection.
Book of Acts
Carrying out of Luke’s purpose for the book of Acts
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit continues to restore others to right relationship with him through the apostles and the early church.
We have gotten to the point where Christianity has taken a major shift away from Judaism as Gentile believers are now regarded equally to Jewish believers in Christ without having to shift their lifestyle towards the law of Moses.
As we continue to learn from the growing pains of early Christians let us look at where did they stand in their relationship to others? Where did they stand regarding God’s acceptance of others?
First, let us begin by asking: Where did Peter stand in relationship to others?
Where do I stand in relationship to others? (Acts 11:1-8)
Where do I stand in relationship to others? (Acts 11:1-8)
“the circumcised...” (Acts 11:2)
“the circumcised...” (Acts 11:2)
Who is writing this?
Why would he make this distinction?
At this point all Christians were Jews before the Holy Spirit descended upon those who were at Cornelius’s house.
“nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth...” (Acts 11:8)
“nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth...” (Acts 11:8)
Where do I stand in God’s acceptance of others? (Acts 11:9-18)
Where do I stand in God’s acceptance of others? (Acts 11:9-18)
“The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.” (Acts 11:12)
“The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.” (Acts 11:12)
“If then God gave the same gift to them… who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17)
“If then God gave the same gift to them… who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17)
Conclusion
Conclusion
Summary
Summary
God expanded Peter’s mind to consider no one “unclean”.
God expanded the council’s mind to consider no one “unclean”.
Application
Application
How quick are we to dwell on what distinguishes us from others who might have received the gift of the Spirit?
Where are we standing? Are we standing in God’s way of gifting others? Are we ushering his gift into other’s lives?