Peter’s Defining Moment Acts 10:9-23

February 3, 2018

Peter’s Defining Moment Acts 10:9-23

Filed under: Acts — admin @ 2:17 PM

Lesson 19

Peter’s Defining Moment

Acts 10:9-23

Some years ago I planned to do a study of the lives of men and women of the Bible to determine the defining moment for each of them in their relationship with God. What I discovered as I began that although there may be one major turning point there are a number of decisions we make that impact the rest of our lives. I, like you, would have to admit that turning my life over to Jesus is the most important choice that I have made. After that it would be marriage, whether to have children etc.

Spiritually, other than becoming a follower of Christ, the defining moment for me occurred as I have shared before about thirty-Seven years ago. The decision to begin to study God’s Word has been a life changer. I often tell people if they don’t like what they see in my life, just think what I would be as if God was working on me through His Word.

Like each of us, somewhere in the history of every church it reaches at least one crossroad. At that point in time it must decide what kind of church is it going to be. All too often this decision or decisions made are based on ME or WE and not what God wants to happen in HIS church. Those choices affect everything that is then done from that moment on. Bethany Place is no different. What we have done in the past is now reflected in who we are today.

We are now at one of those defining moments. Based on what is decided about our direction will determine our future. There are a couple of possibilities. We can continue as we are or look at a different leadership model. The new model for us is really not new at all but is totally biblical. The church would be shepherded not by a single pastor but a team of what is called Elders. Either way we must be absolutely sure that whatever we do it is according to God’s purpose for us.

Like us the actions taken by the players in the events that occurred in Acts 10 and 11 had a great impact on the early church and have repercussions down to the present day.

Acts 10:9-16

As was seen in our previous study, while God was working in the life of Cornelius, the Lord began dealing with the heart of Peter. He was about to prepare him for the unexpected encounter that lay ahead. As any good Jew would do he went into a time of prayer about noontime. It was one of the three times a day a Jew would pray. As has already been described above another of those times would have been 3 PM the hour Cornelius was in prayer the previous day. Notice that God was able to speak to the heart of both men because they sought Him in prayer.

As Peter began to pray he became hungry. God used that occasion for Peter to see a vision of unclean animals being lowered in a sheet. This occurred three times. After each vision Peter was commanded to eat of the animals. Being a good Jew he protested having only eaten those things considered clean by Jewish food laws. God’s final statement to him was, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”

What examples would indicate that Peter was a good Jew?
Why would God use such an extreme example to get Peter’s attention?
Why did He not explain to Peter what He was doing?
Why was Peter allowed to see the vision three times?
Why was this vision so important?
What made it more effective? (The fact that he was hungry helped get his attention.)
In what areas of our lives have we responded as Peter did?
How many times have we said I can’t do that because?
What are some examples that you view as God working in your life for His glory?

Acts 10:17-20

Peter did not understand at that point what all that had just happened to him meant. It was at that very moment that the messengers arrived looking for Peter. Verse 19 tells us that he was still thinking through what God had just shown him when the Holy Spirit gave him another command. He was to go with the three men who had shown up at the door of the house where he was staying. This was to be done without knowing why they were seeking him. The only thing at this point that Peter had to know was that God had sent them to him.

When in your lifetime have you sensed that you were to proceed to do something without knowing all of the details?
What was your initial reaction?
What did God do that gave you the assurance that you were on the right path?
What were the results when you obeyed the command to go forward?
What were the consequences when you failed to act?
What details were left out of the instructions to Peter?

Acts 10:21-23

In his discussion with the men sent to get him they began to fill in part of the picture for him. They related the events that occurred the prior day to Cornelius. Their description of him would have not come from the lips of Cornelius but their first hand knowledge of him. Once again he was described as

Righteous
God-fearing
One who was well-spoken of by the Jews

Because of his character the three believed that God had directed Cornelius to send for Peter to hear what he had to say. Therefore they were willing to make the journey. Based on their testimony Peter asked them to stay with him that night.

If given the opportunity how would another person describe you?
How would such a testimony about someone else influence the way you dealt with that individual?
How much credibility would you give to such a story, today?
Although not written, in what ways do you think that Peter was beginning to understand the events of that day?
Why was he willing to give them lodging?
What did this indicate that Peter was going to do?

As you reflect on the events surrounding Peter’s defining moment there are several things that you can do:

Make a list of the things in your life now or that were in your past that may have kept or are keeping you from serving the Lord.
As you pray over each of the things on your list, which one of them would hold up under the scrutiny of God in His word?
After dealing with any issues your next step is to determine what spiritual gifts God has given you to use in His service?
Be obedient servants and begin serving.

If we as the church were to follow the example of Peter and Cornelius just consider the peace and fulfillment that would come into each of our lives. We do not have search for salvation that Cornelius so desperately desired for himself and his family. It has already been given to us. In thanksgiving for all God has done for us our focus in life should be how we can serve Him with all our heart.

Additional notes:

OC-Peter became victorious over prejudices. (Acts 10:9-16, 27-29, 34-35; 11:4-10, 17-18)

C-God set the stage for Peter to go to the house of Cornelius by showing him what He considered clean and unclean. The visions Peter saw gave him a new attitude towards Gentiles. He was then able under the power of the Holy Spirit to enter the home of a non Jew. (Acts 10:9-29; 10:34-35; 11:4-12)

GC-One must be careful not to become legalistic. (Acts 10:14; 11:2-3)

RT-Cornelius made a statement to Peter to which every church should give attention each time it meets. It must be the primary reason we come together.

When Peter arrived at the home of Cornelius the words he heard were, “Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” Important conditions were met for this story to have meaning for us today. First they came together. They were there because they had a common need and desire. Even with the understanding the people possessed there was a void in each of their lives. For that reason and only for that reason they had assembled themselves to listen to the message of God.

We need to pause here and turn to Romans to see the important ingredient to these events. In talking about man’s salvation Paul penned these words. “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?” He ended up this discourse by saying, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” (Rom. 10:13-15)

GC-One must remember that God is the creator of everything. We are to be careful not to consider unclean what God has cleansed and made holy. (Acts 10:15: 11:9)

S-Peter was commanded to go with the men sent by Cornelius to ask him to come to his house. (Acts 10:20; 11:12)

S-The Bible tells us that Cornelius was divinely instructed to send for Peter to come to his house. From the lips of Peter Cornelius would hear a message of salvation. (Acts 10:22, 32-33; 11:13)