Don't Stand in God's Way
Teach us The Way • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewThroughout history God has been moving to redeem the world back to himself. If we are not careful we can get in the way of God redemptive work because we don't fully understand the changes that are necessary for the world to be won. We must learn to get out of God's way and join him in what he is doing.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
As Christ was teaching his disciples about bringing salvation to the world, he gave the keys to the kingdom to Peter. Peter would be the one to open the doors that all the world world would be blessed.
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Peter unlocks a door to the Gentile world.
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.
God’s Way is not Our Way.
God’s Way is not Our Way.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God is not going to do it our way. Even when we try and do it God’s way, God’s way is different.
The greatest criticisms of God’s work come from God’s people.
The greatest criticisms of God’s work come from God’s people.
1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
They missed the joy of the movement of God.
They were limiting God to what they believed about God.
Illustration: Last year Torin came back from Exponential with story of winning a guy to Christ in the hot tub. Some would question,
Where was this hot tub?
What were you wearing in this hot tub?
Were there men and women in the hot tub together?
Was there alcohol present at this hot tub?
When you quoted Scripture did you use the King James?
When he prayed to receive Christ did he hit all 4 of the spiritual laws of salvation?
Did he cry or not cry?
“Rejoice in the movement of God before you criticize the way.”
“Rejoice in the movement of God before you criticize the way.”
Don’t let tradition cloud your vision.
Don’t let tradition cloud your vision.
4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
Rules for visions
Rules for visions
God never contradicts himself.
New prophecy is subjective to old prophecy. This is why both Jesus, Peter, and Paul are constantly quoting the old testament. New things are happening that were prophesied of old.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Do what the Spirit says, no matter what people think
Do what the Spirit says, no matter what people think
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
Tradition never trumps the movement of God
Tradition never trumps the movement of God
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
God’s Way Becomes a Movement
God’s Way Becomes a Movement
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
God’s movement is more inclusive than exclusive.
God’s movement is more inclusive than exclusive.
The Jews from Jerusalem were only speaking to Jews.
The Jews from Jerusalem were only speaking to Jews.
Saved people want to share with those around them.
Saved people want to share with those around them.
God’s movement demands a response.
God’s movement demands a response.
22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
Some define grace as getting what you don’t deserve.
Some define grace as getting what you don’t deserve.
Biblical definition: “Grace is God sending His Son, Jesus, as a ransom for the sin of mankind.”
Biblical definition: “Grace is God sending His Son, Jesus, as a ransom for the sin of mankind.”
God’s movement required some leaders.
God’s movement required some leaders.
25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Barnabas knew just the man for the job.
Barnabas was the one that welcomed Saul into the brotherhood in Jerusalem.
God had already prepared someone the bridge the gap from a Jewish religion to a worldwide movement.
Antioch becomes the central hub for the gospel being spread to all the gentile world.
Antioch becomes the central hub for the gospel being spread to all the gentile world.
There will always be people trying to stand in God’s way.
There will always be people trying to stand in God’s way.
After 10 years, Peter is still under the influence of the circumcision party.
After 10 years, Peter is still under the influence of the circumcision party.
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
When people refuse to change with God they hinder the work of God.
When people refuse to change with God they hinder the work of God.
We must keep a distinction between culture and Bible.
We must keep a distinction between culture and Bible.
God’s grace is the only way of salvation.
God’s grace is the only way of salvation.
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
R-Group Questions:
R-Group Questions:
In what new ways do you see God moving to redeem our city?
What are some traditions that you might be holding on to that would hinder the gospel to those who are not like you?
What step can you take to join the movement of God in a greater capacity?