God Sends Listen! (and Follow)

How much active faith did it take For you to get to Today?

God doesn't reward Unexercised Faith

Hearing from God Heart Hands Feet

Never let the Reality of your circumstances Dictate the Truth of your Faith

Acts 10 Reality of their Circumstances: - Widespread persecution - Roman Officials helped kill Christ Truth of their Faith: - Christ is alive - The Message can't be stopped!

2 Men in the Path of God's Voice 1 Man obeying What he knows of God's will 1 Man being stretched In his obedience to God's leading

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God

Heart= devout man Hands= with all his household Hands= alms generously Feet= prayed continually

About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 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.

And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Maybe years?

Why hasn't God answered? When's "last call"?

Why hasn't God answered? When's "last call"? And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up - Galatians 6:9

"And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea"

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, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa

God never rewards An unexercised faith

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 Feet: Path of God's Voice

And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth

In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat”

In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat” Dogs and Cats Living Together… It's the end of the world

But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven

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 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there

When God's voice isn't Immediately understood It'll become clear As we follow by faith

God never rewards An unexercised faith

And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”

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.” 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. And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends

Wants his peeps to know his God And takes steps to make sure they do

What steps Have I taken?

God never Rewards An unexercised Faith

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.

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. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me”

Any person…?

Gay, straight, race, socio-economics, style of music, political affiliations, North vs. South…? NO ONE.

Gay, straight, race, socio-economics, style of music, political affiliations, North vs. South…? NO ONE. "I should not call any person common or unclean"

Context: Being sent to share The message of Jesus

It's not our job to - Choose who we are sent to - Judge them as unworthy - Make someone moral - Try to fix them

Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you - 1 Cor. 9-11

It is our honor to - Lead people to Jesus (who alone can change hearts) - Tell our story - Give room for the Spirit to work

Can God use me? It's gonna take Faith God never Rewards An unexercised Faith

…but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. Broader Scope: - Only sharing Jesus with certain people - Segregation among believers - Cliques within churches

Broader Scope: Only sharing Jesus with certain people Segregation among believers Cliques within churches Principle: Only loving people who are easy to love

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? - Matthew 5:46-47

When by word and by deed I treat people with love and respect - I make it clear that Jesus didn't just die for me alone (I'm not more "worthy") - I evidence the work of God in my life - I prove my love for Jesus

Can I love people I don't like? It's gonna take faith God never Rewards An unexercised Faith

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another- Jesus, John 13:34 Judas Feet are Clean…

Who is unclean for you? Who do you judge and prefer not to be around? Who do you laugh at and speak derisive words about?

Who is unclean for you? Who do you judge and prefer not to be around? Who do you laugh at and speak derisive words about? What would Jesus have you do (now)?

God never Rewards…?

Peter goes against Everything he's ever known (Until he met Jesus…)

"…when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me"

And Cornelius said, "Four days ago…" And Cornelius said, "Four days ago…"

'…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.’ 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.”

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:

…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him

And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name”

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles

For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

2 Men in the Path of God's Voice Both Need to Hear 1 Needs to know Jesus 1 Needs to obey Jesus It's going to take Faith! Peter is an Apostle= Sent One

You are sent (And not just to the people you like) The heart of Christ is always for the lost and disenfranchised

You are sent (And not just to the people you like) Outside the Faith: Matthew 28:18-20 Luke 24:45-49 John 20:21 Acts 1:8

To show the world what Jesus looks like: - At work - In a marriage - When he handles money - When he goes to the beach - Or the movies

You are sent (And not just to the people you like) In the Faith: - Bearing with one another in love… - Carry each others' burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ - Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Why do you despise your brother?

To show the world what Jesus looks like: - When he loves the unloveable - When he cares for his own - When puts others before himself - When he includes people others would exclude

If I'm broken And you're broken… Who am I to tell your Your brokenness is unworthy of me?

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them” - Acts 10:1-11:3

…but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean …but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean

Mike Skupin- Survivor "Not long ago at Mike's house was probably one of the only 20-year middle school reunions people had ever attended…

Mike made sure that that there was healing between those former popular kids and those who were outcasts and picked on back then ( )

One particular guy was really persecuted during those years. One by one, at Mike’s encouragement, we all went up and asked forgiveness of this former nerd for the way we treated him…

…he (the nerd) lit up at the party after that... It lifted a burden of guilt from my back and I’m grateful to Mike for having facilitated it

How much active faith did it take For you to get to Today?

How much active faith did it take For you to get to Today? Every person you meet Is an opportunity to exercise Faith

God sends- if we will listen and obey It WILL take Faith God blesses a faith That is exercised

Who is "unclean" for me? Honestly, have I judged them unworthy? Do I exclude certain people from God's call on my life? Will I repent now?