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ACTS 10
LESSON #15
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
- MEMORY VERSE: ACT 10:34
- WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT CORNELIUS?
- CORNELIUS WAS A GENTILE, A ROMAN, WHO LIVED IN THE CITY OF CAESAREA.
- THE CITY OF CAESAREA WAS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST, KNOWN FOR ITS MILD CLIMATE AND SEA BREEZES. IT WAS A ROMAN DOMINATED CITY. MANY ROMAN LEADERS CHOSE TO LIVE THERE INCLUDING PILATE.
- CORNELIUS WAS A CENTURION OF THE ITALIAN BAND. (1)
- HE WAS A SOLDIER IN CHARGE OF ABOUT 100 MEN.
- THE ITALIAN BAND WAS A GROUP OF SOLDIERS RECRUITED AND TRAINED IN ITALY.
- CORNELIUS WAS A DEVOUT MAN WHO FEARED GOD.(2)
- THIS WAS A MAN WHO OUTWARDLY WAS A “GOOD” MAN WHO LIVED A “GOOD” LIFE.
- THIS WAS A MAN HAD A HEART FOR GOD AND FOR THE WAYS OF GOD, BUT HE DID NOT KNOW GOD. HE DID NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, NOR DID HE HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF EXACTLY WHO GOD WAS.
- HE WAS NOT A JEWISH PROSELYTE, BUT HE WAS FAVORABLE TO JUDAISM. THE JEWS WOULD HAVE CALLED HIM, “A PROSELYTE OF THE GATE”.
- THE EVIDENCE OF HIS FRIENDLINESS TO JUDAISM WAS HIS ALMS TO POOR JEWISH PEOPLE. GIVING TO THE POOR WAS SOMETHING THAT JUDAISM STRESSED.
- READ ROM 1:19-20
- CORNELIUS WAS A MAN WHO KNEW, BY THE WORLD AROUND HIM, THAT THERE WAS A CREATOR GOD. HE LIVED UP TO THE LIGHT THAT HE HAD RECEIVED.
- IS SUCH A “GOOD” MAN REALLY GOING TO SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE? YES.
- HOWEVER, FOR THOSE LIKE CORNELIUS, GOD WILL DO EVEN THE EXTRAORDINARY TO GIVE THAT PERSON MORE SPIRITUAL LIGHT.
- CORNELIUS VISION:
- WHILE CORNELIUS PRAYED TO A JEWISH GOD AND CREATOR HE DID NOT KNOW, GOD GAVE HIM A VISION (MORE SPIRITUAL LIGHT).
- CORNELIUS SAW A VISION OF AN ANGEL WHO SPOKE TO HIM.
- WHAT IS THE MESSAGE IN CORNELIUS VISION?
- PRAYERS AND ALMS ARE A MEMORIAL THAT GOD NOTICED.
- THESE DID NOT GIVE CORNELIUS ANY MERIT POINTS TOWARD EARNING HIS SALVATION, BUT THEY WERE EVIDENCE OF THIS MANS DESIRE TO KNOW GOD.
- CORNELIUS MUST SEND MEN TO JOPPA TO GET PETER WHO IS STAYING AT THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE TANNER.
- CORNELIUS SENDS TWO SERVANTS AND A SOLDIER TO GET PETER. (7)
- PETER RECEIVED A VISION FROM GOD.
- PETER SAW A SHEET FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF CREATURES AND ANIMALS.
- A HEAVENLY VOICE TOLD PETER TO KILL THESE CREATURES AND ANIMALS AND EAT THEM.
- PETERS RESPONSE:
- PETER WAS SURPRISED AND DID NOT OBEY THE COMMAND. HE SAID THAT NOTHING COMMON OR CEREMONIALLY UNCLEAN HAD EVER PASSED HIS LIPS.
- HE IS SAYING THAT HE WAS A GOOD JEW WHO OBEYED THE MOSAIC LAW REGARDING THOSE THINGS THAT GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT HAD SAID WERE UNCLEAN FOR A JEW TO EAT.
- THE HEAVENLY COMMAND (15)
- DO NOT CALL ANYTHING THAT GOD HAS CLEANSED, COMMON OR UNCLEAN.
- WHAT IS THE MESSAGE IN PETERS VISION AND WHY WAS THE VISION NECESSARY?
- THE MESSAGE IN THE VISION IS GODS VERIFICATION THAT SINCE THE DAY OF PENTECOST IS A NEW DISPENSATION (NEW HOUSE RULES). PETER IS NO LONGER LIVING IN THE AGE OF THE MOSAIC LAW. HE IS NOW LIVING IN THE AGE OF GRACE WHERE NEW RULES APPLY.
- IT IS LIKE A HOUSEHOLD WHERE THE FATHER OF THE HOUSE MAKES CERTAIN RULES FOR HIS FAMILY. HOWEVER, AS HIS CHILDREN MATURE, HE CHANGES THE RULES RELEVANT TO THEIR AGE.
- THE RULES FOR A SMALL CHILD MAY BE, “DO NOT TOUCH THE HOT STOVE OR YOU WILL BE BURNED.”
- THE RULES FOR A TEENAGER MAY BE, “YOU MUST HAVE THE CAR HOME BY 10:00 PM SO YOUR OLDER BROTHER CAN DRIVE TO WORK.”
- THE RULES FOR ONE AGE CHILD DO NOT APPLY TO THAT OF ANOTHER AGE. THEREFORE THE MOSAIC LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO SOMEONE LIVING IN THE AGE OF GRACE.
- THE VISION GIVEN TO PETER IS NECESSARY TO PREPARE HIM FOR THE VISIT OF CORNELIUS SERVANTS.
- IT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE PETER, HIMSELF, SAYS THAT HE IS STILL LIVING ACCORDING TO THE MOSAIC LAW.
- IF GOD HAD NOT PREPARED PETER IN THIS WAY, PETER NEVER WOULD HAVE OPENED THE DOOR TO A GROUP OF VISITING GENTILES. NOR WOULD HE TRAVEL WITH THESE GENTILES TO VISIT CORNELIUS, ANOTHER GENTILE, NOR WOULD HE EVER ENTER A GENTILES HOUSE.
- READ ACT 10:19-33
- WHILE PETER CONTEMPLATES THE VISION, THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN TELLS PETER TO GO WITH THE THREE MEN AT THE GATE BECAUSE GOD SENT THEM.
- PETERS OBEDIENCE
- WHY IS PETER SO EASILY PERSUADED WHEN HE DECLINED TO KILL THE ANIMALS AND EAT THEM?
- HE NOW KNEW THAT THIS WAS A VISION FROM GOD BECAUSE HE WAS TOLD OF THE THREE MEN AT THE GATE WHO WOULD REQUEST HIS PRESENCE.
- GOD FULFILLED IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE HEAVENLY VOICE TOLD HIM.
- WHAT DOES VERSE 21 TELL US ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF PETER?
- DESPITE MANY YEARS OF INDOCTRINATION REGARDING THE LAWS OF JUDAISM, PETER, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, IMMEDIATELY HUMBLES HIMSELF TO THE WILL OF GOD WHO IS DOING NEW, UNEXPECTED THINGS IN HIS LIFE.
- THREE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF A FAITHFUL, OBEDIENT SERVANT OF GOD:
- =1= PETER HAS A SOFT HEART THAT LETS GOD MOLD IT AND CHANGE IT.
- =2= PETER IS SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN HIM, THAT IS GUIDING HIM IN NEW DIRECTIONS.
- =3= PETER IS HUMBLE AND WILLING TO BEAR CRITICISM FROM OTHERS TO DO GODS WILL.
- THE EVIDENCE OF PETERS CHANGED ATTITUDE: (23)
- PETER GAVE LODGING TO THE THREE GENTILES.
- THIS IS SOMETHING A GOOD JEW WOULD NEVER DO.
- PETER AND OTHER CHRISTIANS GO TO CAESAREA:
- PETER TAKES A FEW OTHER CHRISTIANS WITH HIM, AND THEY ACCOMPANY CORNELIUS THREE SERVANTS TO CAESAREA.
- IN EXPECTATION OF PETERS VISIT, CORNELIUS GATHERS FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN HIS HOUSE.
- CORNELIUS MIS-DIRECTED WORSHIP: (25)
- WHY DID CORNELIUS WORSHIP PETER?
- CORNELIUS KNEW HIS VISION WAS FROM GOD. THEREFORE, WHEN THE SUBJECT OF THAT VISION STOOD BEFORE HIM, HE THOUGHT PETER WAS HOLY AND DESERVING WORSHIP.
- THE ROMANS HAD NO PROBLEM WORSHIPPING PEOPLE. THEIR RELIGION HAD MANY GODS INCLUDING THE EMPEROR HIMSELF. IF THE EMPEROR WAS A HUMAN GOD, THEN WHY NOT PETER?
- PETER CORRECTS CORNELIUS MISTAKE.
- PETERS EXPLANATION OF HIS SURPRISING PRESENCE AS A JEW IN A GENTILE HOUSE: (28)
- PETER EXPLAINS HIS PRESENCE BECAUSE HIS GENTILE HOSTS WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED AT HIS PRESENCE.
- REMEMBER THAT GOD HAD NOT TOLD CORNELIUS THAT PETER WAS A JEW.
- PETER EXPLAINS THAT HE IS DIRECTED BY GOD TO BE THERE SO THAT THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO GODS MESSAGE. (29)
- CORNELIUS EXPLAINS HIS VISION AND THEIR OPENNESS TO GODS MESSAGE. (30-33)
- WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN VERSES 1-33?
- THROUGH THIS WHOLE SCENARIO WE SEE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD:
- GOD SEES THE HEART OF A MAN WHO WANTS TO KNOW GOD PERSONALLY. THEREFORE, GOD WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BRING THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL TO THAT PERSON.
- CORNELIUS EXPERIENCE IS THE ANSWER TO THE OFTEN ASKED QUESTION, “WHAT ABOUT THE PERSON IN DEEPEST, DARKEST AFRICA WHO NEVER HEARD THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WILL HE SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE?
- WHAT ARE THE MAIN TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE?
- GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM. HE WILL RECEIVE ANYONE WHOSE HEART IS RIGHT WITH GOD.(34-35)
- GOD SENT JESUS CHRIST, THE WORD OF GOD, TO ALL PEOPLE (36).
- JOHN THE BAPTIST BEGAN TO PREACH ABOUT REPENTANCE FOR THE REMISSION OF SIN. (37)
- JESUS WAS ANOINTED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DO GODS WILL ON EARTH. (38)
- PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES WERE GODS WITNESSES OF THE CRUCIFIXION. (39)
- JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND APPEARED TO MANY, ESPECIALLY TO THE DISCIPLES. (40-41)
- JESUS COMMANDED THE DISCIPLES TO PREACH TO THE PEOPLE THAT HE WAS THE JUDGE OF ALL LIVING AND DEAD. (42)
- ALL THE PROPHETS GAVE TESTIMONY THAT BELIEF IN HIS NAME, THE NAME OF JESUS, THE CHRIST, WILL BRING THE REMISSION OF SINS TO ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM.
- READ ACT 10:43-48 THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
- WHO ARE “THEY OF THE CIRCUMCISION”? (45)
- THE TITLE PHRASE, “THE CIRCUMCISION” ALWAYS REFERS TO THE JEWS. THE FEW JEWISH BELIEVERS WHO CAME WITH PETER TO THE HOUSE OF CORNELIUS WERE AMAZED THAT THESE GENTILES WERE HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAD.
- THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN GENTILES:
- THESE GENTILES WERE BORN AGAIN AND RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT. (45)
- THESE GENTILES RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
- HOW DID THE JEWS KNOW THAT THE GENTILES WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
- THEY HEARD WITH THEIR EARS THE EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES WHICH WAS WHAT THEY, THEMSELVES, EXPERIENCED. (46)
- THEN PETER DECIDES TO BAPTIZE THESE NEW GENTILE BELIEVERS IN WATER AS EVIDENCE THAT THEY RECEIVED CHRIST IN THEIR HEARTS. (47)
- APPLICATION:
- THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS EVIDENCED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS AND CLEARLY SEEN HERE IN THIS CHAPTER HELPS REMIND US WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE AGE OF GRACE:
- BEFORE JESUS LEFT THIS EARTH, HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE WOULD SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN JOH 14, 15, AND 16, HE TOLD THE DISCIPLES WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD DO FOR THEM.
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THE SEVEN-FOLD WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT |
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| THE HOLY SPIRITS ROLE IN THE AGE OF GRACE: | SIGNIFICANCE: | SCRIPTURE: |
| HE WILL ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER | WHEN A PERSON IS BORN AGAIN, HE IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO LIVE INSIDE THE NEW BELIEVER | JOH 14:16 |
| HE IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND WILL TESTIFY OF JESUS CHRIST | THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS IN A PERSONS HEART TO BRING HIM TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH ABOUT WHO JESUS CHRIST IS. | JOH 15:26 |
| HE WILL CONVICT THE WORLD OF SIN, OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND OF JUDGMENT | THE HOLY SPIRIT CAUSES A PERSON TO FEEL GUILTY OVER SIN SO THAT HE REALIZES HE IS UNDER GODS JUDGMENT FOR SIN. HOWEVER, HE ALSO ENABLES THE PERSON TO DESIRE GODS RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS. | JOH 16:8 |
| THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GUIDE THE BELIEVER IN TRUTH | WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT, THE BELIEVER HAS THAT INNER VOICE OF GOD THAT REVEALS TO HIM WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHAT IS FALSE. | JOH 16:13 |
| THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF BUT ONLY WHAT HE HEARS FROM GOD | THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NEVER FOCUS ON HIMSELF OR ELEVATE HIMSELF TO A SUPERIOR POSITION. | JOH 16:13 |
| THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME | THROUGH THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE (1COR 12:8-11) THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL REVEAL THINGS TO THE BELIEVER FOR THE PURPOSES OF MINISTRY TO OTHERS. | JOH 16:13 |
| THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GLORIFY CHRIST AND RECEIVE OF MINE | THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE PERSON OF THE TRINITY THAT CAUSES A PERSON TO BE BORN AGAIN FOR THE GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST AND SPIRITUALLY PLACES HIM INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. | JOH 16:14 |
HOMEWORK
ACTS 11
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION
- APPLICATION OF ACT 10
- OF THE SEVEN-FOLD ASPECTS OF THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH HAVE YOU PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED?
- PREPARATION FOR ACT 11
- READ ACT 11:1-30
- WHAT DOES THE PASSAGE TEACH ABOUT THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT?
- GOD, THE FATHER:
