Are Your Expectations Eager or Meager? (PM Lesson Outlines)
GIST: We must be eager to hear from God and speak the truth of the gospel, and we cannot allow personal prejudices to limit our expectations.
SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:24-48
Tonight, we’re going to look at the second half of Acts 10. As I noted this morning, it’s the longest narrative in the book, and one that will be repeatedly revisited by Luke. Why? Because this is huge! Here we see the first Gentile conversion. Until now, we have only seen Jewish people saved, but extending salvation to the world has always been God’s plan. Remember what God promised Abraham? “17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”(Genesis 22:17-18 emphasis added)
Since this passage is lengthy, I want to read it as we come to it like we did this morning. However, the big picture I want to take from this is what we, again, will observe in the actions of Cornelius and Peter. Here’s our gist: We must be eager to hear from God and speak the truth of the gospel, and we cannot allow personal prejudices to limit our expectations.
I. How Eager Are You To Hear? (24-27)
First, let’s look at Cornelius. If you remember from this morning, he was a good man. In fact, he was a very good man. He feared God, prayed continually, and provided for the needy. Nonetheless, he was missing Jesus. An angel appears to him and tells him he needs to hear from Peter, and immediately Cornelius sends messengers. He wants to know the truth. Now, let’s not gloss over the fact that he does start this passage with some→
Misguided Praise “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." This is where we see his need. He wants to worship, and he knows he needs something more than himself. As of yet, his understanding of who meets that need is incomplete. Nonetheless, though his praise is initially misguided, his desire was good. He wanted to hear the truth---and he didn’t want to do this alone. Here’s a huge point→
He Gathered MANY Friends & Family Members “24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.” In fact, verse 27 tells us Peter confronted a large crowd, “27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.” Compare this to your own excitement, and be honest with yourself. Personally, you have the opportunity to open God’s Word whenever you want. You can also come and worship with fellow believers freely. How excited are you to do these? How big of a priority are they for you and your family? How often do you invite others to join you? I know these questions might seem like a pastor just trying to guilt you into being more active in church. If this convicts you, well, that’s not a bad thing at all☺️. However, the reason I’m asking these questions is because it is convicting to me. If we’re really excited about something, it shows in how we live our lives. If we’re not...that’s evident too. Everyone in this room would agree that nothing and no one is more worthy of our excitement than Jesus, but if this truth has not invaded our hearts and taken over our lives, then it’s not something we really believe. Don’t lose that thought. We’ll come back to it.
II. How Eager Are You To Speak? (28-43)
Now, let’s look at Peter. He’s called to tell these people the good news--the only news that will change their lives. However, he was→
Initially Guarded “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." At first, he’s not eager. Why? Because he doesn’t want to be here! Remember, this goes against everything he’s ever believed about society. God is changing him, but there is still resistance. Still yet, he is→
Open to God’s Redirection “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." 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Cornelius explains, and all the prep Jesus had done clicks for Peter. Remember, Jesus has been working on Peter for a long time on this. Not only, did He walk with Peter for three years, but most recently He has also led Peter to stay in the home of an “unclean” tanner and shown him a vision of animals no longer being “unclean”. It’s like in that moment a lightbulb goes off, and Peter is like, “Oh, so that’s what the sheet thing was about!” And what a wonderful truth this is: there is no partiality. Anyone who calls on the name of Jesus can be saved! Peter realized this and then→
Proclaimed The Gospel That Made This Change Possible Look at how he quickly and succinctly lays out the good news that Cornelius needed so desperately to hear. “36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 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. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death...” Don’t forget, he’s talking to a Roman official here! “...by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 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. 42 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….” You want hope? Come to the one who holds the whole world in His hands… and died for you! “...43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." AMEN! (Emphases added ☺️)
III. Do Any Prejudices Make Your Expectations Meager? (34, 44-48)
Before we get to the takeaways this evening, let me end with these two quick observations. Like we just said →
Peter Has A Revelation “34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. … “ He wasn’t expecting this, but was hit in the face with this amazing truth. AND this revelation was immediately confirmed in such a way→
That Is Beyond A Shadow Of A Doubt There is actually an abrupt ending to Peter’s sermon. But it was a beautiful ending. He had just proclaimed that forgiveness comes from Jesus. Then→ “44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 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. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days." Jesus makes it clear that He is changing Gentile lives just like He has been amongst the Jews! →
But This Isn’t How He Came Into The Situation. I know we’ve probably established this to the nth degree. BUT...we can’t miss this. Peter came into this situation resistant. He didn’t want to be there and was pretty guarded in his approach. He leaves changed because he let God overcome his personal struggles. Yeah, we could learn so much from adopting this attitude.
TAKEAWAYS
1. How eager are you to hear from God? Is there a longing in your heart for Him? How seriously do you take His voice?
2. How eager are you for others to hear from God? Who are you gathering? Let’s lay this out there, too. Reaching out to friends and family is the hardest. It’s hard to call them to repentance, too. How can we face this? By being eager to share the gospel. It’s not as scary if it means everything to you! So→
3. How eager are you to share the gospel? Are His Words on your lips?
4. Do you have any prejudices that are getting in the way of any or all of the above? There will be calls of God we don’t immediately understand, but we still need to go! Two quick points: 1. Those calls only come when you’re listening! 2. Salvation is for all who believe!
There are a lot of convicting thoughts here. Let’s end with an intentional time of prayer.
