1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,240 Thank you for listening to the Riverbend Church Podcast. 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,920 Riverbend Church exists to lead all people to know, love, and 3 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,320 live new life in Jesus Christ. We hope that you enjoy this 4 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:20,920 message. People said Amen, Amen. 5 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:22,960 We're having church, Church, you sit down. 6 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,120 My name is Preston. I'm one of the pastors here. 7 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,560 I'm super excited that you are here with us this morning. 8 00:00:29,020 --> 00:00:33,180 As we worship a risen Savior together this morning, we're 9 00:00:33,180 --> 00:00:36,460 continuing in our series On an Unfamiliar Road. 10 00:00:36,460 --> 00:00:39,220 And listen, if you're in Oakwood this with us this morning, or if 11 00:00:39,220 --> 00:00:42,020 you're online, we're super excited that you are here. 12 00:00:42,140 --> 00:00:44,260 And we pray that the Holy Spirit has shown up through your 13 00:00:44,260 --> 00:00:47,220 worship service and also just where you are as the message is 14 00:00:47,220 --> 00:00:50,260 about to be brought. So listen well again, we're an 15 00:00:50,300 --> 00:00:52,060 unfamiliar Rd. We're diving into the life of a 16 00:00:52,060 --> 00:00:55,820 man named Peter. And he was on an unfamiliar Rd. 17 00:00:55,820 --> 00:00:58,260 We're going to be in the Acts Chapter 10, So if you want to 18 00:00:58,260 --> 00:01:00,540 turn there and your Bibles, that's where we're going to be. 19 00:01:00,540 --> 00:01:02,580 But I do see a lot of new faces this morning. 20 00:01:02,980 --> 00:01:05,740 I do see a lot of new faces. And as I see your faces, I want 21 00:01:05,740 --> 00:01:10,100 to bring us up to speed on where we're at in the story from Acts 22 00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:13,220 chapter 10, verse one, all the way to verse 33. 23 00:01:13,460 --> 00:01:15,060 And so we're going to be picking up in 34. 24 00:01:15,060 --> 00:01:18,300 But from 1 to 33, there was a man named Cornelius. 25 00:01:18,540 --> 00:01:24,450 He was a Roman army officer. And this man loved God, and he 26 00:01:24,450 --> 00:01:27,610 gave to God. He prayed to God, and God heard 27 00:01:27,610 --> 00:01:30,770 his prayers, saw and accepted his giving. 28 00:01:31,090 --> 00:01:34,850 And the Lord came to him by an Angel. 29 00:01:34,850 --> 00:01:38,090 And this is what happened, he said, Hey, Cornelius, go and 30 00:01:38,090 --> 00:01:41,050 send for a man named Peter. And so Cornelius did. 31 00:01:41,380 --> 00:01:45,820 Just that he sends some of his men for a man named Peter, and 32 00:01:45,820 --> 00:01:50,420 as he does this, Peter is going up to a rooftop of where he is 33 00:01:50,420 --> 00:01:54,020 staying and Peter's going to pray on his way up there. 34 00:01:54,180 --> 00:01:58,940 Peter is hungry. And if if anybody has a Mama or 35 00:01:58,940 --> 00:02:01,780 a grandmama or maybe even a father that cooks really, really 36 00:02:01,780 --> 00:02:03,900 well and you smell that food downstairs, it's just like. 37 00:02:04,340 --> 00:02:06,460 Oh, I'm getting excited. It just makes you more hungry. 38 00:02:06,460 --> 00:02:08,699 Like this was Peter. They were cooking downstairs, 39 00:02:08,860 --> 00:02:11,540 Peter's hungry. And then the Lord appears to him 40 00:02:11,540 --> 00:02:15,020 in a vision and the vision goes like this. 41 00:02:15,740 --> 00:02:19,380 The skies open up. Peter sees what seems like a 42 00:02:19,380 --> 00:02:23,740 sheet, comes down with all types of animals, birds, reptiles on 43 00:02:23,740 --> 00:02:26,500 it. And then this conversation goes 44 00:02:26,500 --> 00:02:30,380 on between God and Peter, and God says this, get up Peter. 45 00:02:30,820 --> 00:02:33,490 Kill and eat them. And Peter says this. 46 00:02:33,490 --> 00:02:35,610 No, Lord. Like Peter said no to God. 47 00:02:35,610 --> 00:02:39,410 He said yeah, no, Lord, I have never eaten anything that of our 48 00:02:39,410 --> 00:02:42,770 Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean. 49 00:02:43,130 --> 00:02:46,130 God says this. Do not call something unclean if 50 00:02:46,130 --> 00:02:49,730 God has made it clean. So this vision happened three 51 00:02:49,730 --> 00:02:51,730 different times. The vision happened three 52 00:02:51,730 --> 00:02:53,410 different times. And on the third time, at the 53 00:02:53,450 --> 00:02:56,410 end of it, the sheet goes back up into the sky, the sky close 54 00:02:56,410 --> 00:02:58,290 up. And Peter's just like what just 55 00:02:58,290 --> 00:03:00,710 happened. Like, what are you trying to 56 00:03:00,710 --> 00:03:01,350 tell me? God. 57 00:03:01,350 --> 00:03:03,470 And immediately at that moment, guess who shows up? 58 00:03:03,710 --> 00:03:06,950 The men that Cornelius sent, they're at his front door. 59 00:03:06,950 --> 00:03:08,550 They're asking for a man named Peter. 60 00:03:08,710 --> 00:03:10,390 Peter's on the rooftop. And guess what happens? 61 00:03:10,390 --> 00:03:13,190 The Holy Spirit comes to Peter and says, Peter, there's men at 62 00:03:13,190 --> 00:03:15,110 the door downstairs waiting for you. 63 00:03:15,270 --> 00:03:18,700 Get up and go. So Peter goes with him. 64 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:21,900 The next day they head back to the House of Cornelius, where 65 00:03:21,900 --> 00:03:24,940 Cornelius has gathered his friends, his family, and they 66 00:03:24,940 --> 00:03:27,580 get there. Cornelius and Peter swap 67 00:03:27,580 --> 00:03:28,500 visions. They like this. 68 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:30,460 And God told me this, God told me this. 69 00:03:30,780 --> 00:03:32,780 And then this is where we're going to pick up in our story 70 00:03:32,780 --> 00:03:35,300 today. I want to read Verse 33 is where 71 00:03:35,300 --> 00:03:38,220 we left off last week. Cornelius says this to Peter. 72 00:03:38,220 --> 00:03:42,820 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. 73 00:03:43,420 --> 00:03:46,460 Now we're all here, waiting before God to hear the message. 74 00:03:46,740 --> 00:03:48,740 The Lord. Has given you. 75 00:03:49,940 --> 00:03:52,900 And so let's just let's reminisce a minute for what was 76 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:56,260 said last week in the separation between Jews and Gentiles. 77 00:03:58,380 --> 00:04:03,300 Peter, a Jew, was about to step into the House of a Gentile. 78 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:06,700 This was not okay in the Jewish law. 79 00:04:07,100 --> 00:04:10,580 It was unacceptable. Gentiles were known as 80 00:04:10,780 --> 00:04:16,620 outsiders, unclean, not good enough to talk to the Jews. 81 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:20,200 So this would be like me, a N Hall High School graduate. 82 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,880 Sorry, a N Hall High School graduate. 83 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,880 They played sports doing and having anything to do with 84 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,760 Gainesville. And if you don't understand what 85 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,800 I'm talking about, I do help out with the football team and they 86 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,840 are here this morning. So with Gainesville High School 87 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:39,200 football team complete, opposites, but it would be that 88 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,720 that a N Hall person would be with a Gainesville affiliate. 89 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:44,920 So. That's what we're picking up 90 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:49,200 today in verse 34, if you would. Let's read God's word as Peter 91 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,640 is standing in the midst of Gentiles about to deliver the 92 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:58,120 first gospel message. Then Peter replied. 93 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:03,040 I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism in every 94 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,200 nation. He accepts those who fear him 95 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,800 and do what is right. This is the message of good news 96 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,210 for the people of Israel. That there is peace with God 97 00:05:12,210 --> 00:05:15,250 through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 98 00:05:15,730 --> 00:05:18,450 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in 99 00:05:18,450 --> 00:05:21,330 Galilee after John began preaching his message of 100 00:05:21,330 --> 00:05:23,890 baptism. And you know that God anointed 101 00:05:23,890 --> 00:05:27,330 Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. 102 00:05:28,090 --> 00:05:31,290 Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were 103 00:05:31,290 --> 00:05:36,050 oppressed by the devil, for God was with him, and we apostles 104 00:05:36,050 --> 00:05:39,210 are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in 105 00:05:39,210 --> 00:05:42,840 Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging 106 00:05:42,840 --> 00:05:46,880 him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. 107 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,200 Then God allowed him to to appear not to the general 108 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:54,200 public, but to us, whom God had chosen in advance to be his 109 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,880 witnesses. We were those who ate and drank 110 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,800 with him after he rose from the dead, and he offered us or 111 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:05,640 ordered us, to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the 112 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:09,120 one appointed by God to be the judge of all the living. 113 00:06:09,500 --> 00:06:12,740 And the dead? He is the one all the prophets 114 00:06:12,740 --> 00:06:18,180 testified about, saying everyone who believes in him will have 115 00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:20,500 their sins forgiven through his name. 116 00:06:20,780 --> 00:06:23,300 Let's pray. Church Jesus, we love you. 117 00:06:23,300 --> 00:06:26,260 This morning we come to you. We pray that your spirit will 118 00:06:26,260 --> 00:06:29,180 continue and sustain us. May you speak to us through your 119 00:06:29,180 --> 00:06:31,100 word, We love you, Jesus. In your name we pray. 120 00:06:31,780 --> 00:06:34,420 Amen. So do we have any hunters in the 121 00:06:34,420 --> 00:06:35,810 room? Show of hands. 122 00:06:35,810 --> 00:06:39,170 Any hunters, people that like hunting, maybe outdoors? 123 00:06:39,490 --> 00:06:40,850 All right, listen, I see your hands. 124 00:06:40,850 --> 00:06:43,370 I see who you are. I need your help because we're 125 00:06:43,370 --> 00:06:46,730 going to be talking about a few things that some people, maybe 126 00:06:46,730 --> 00:06:49,890 your neighbor, just might not understand completely. 127 00:06:50,610 --> 00:06:54,330 And so I'm giving you permission to do this during the service, 128 00:06:54,330 --> 00:06:57,890 as I'm talking, nudge them, be like, hey, I noticed you got 129 00:06:57,890 --> 00:06:59,690 this look on your face. Like you have no clue what he's 130 00:06:59,690 --> 00:07:01,730 talking about. And so this is what I'm going to 131 00:07:01,730 --> 00:07:02,690 do. I'm going to take you out to 132 00:07:02,690 --> 00:07:06,130 lunch and listen. I'm going to talk to you about 133 00:07:06,130 --> 00:07:07,410 it. I'm going to explain it to you. 134 00:07:07,410 --> 00:07:09,570 I'm going to give you all the ins and outs and the details and 135 00:07:09,570 --> 00:07:12,130 listen, women or people that just don't like hunting, I'm 136 00:07:12,130 --> 00:07:13,370 going to go ahead and throw this out here. 137 00:07:13,410 --> 00:07:16,090 I'm sorry. I just gave the men and hunters 138 00:07:16,090 --> 00:07:18,890 in the room an opportunity to talk about hunting at lunch. 139 00:07:18,890 --> 00:07:20,610 And so I want to just go ahead and put this out here. 140 00:07:20,610 --> 00:07:21,930 I'm sorry. That's my fault. 141 00:07:22,170 --> 00:07:24,530 But hunting is coming up. And how many weeks away? 142 00:07:25,770 --> 00:07:27,090 Yeah, there we go. Look, they know. 143 00:07:27,290 --> 00:07:30,530 They know, like hunting's coming up in four weeks, so. 144 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:32,920 Anyways, you understand this, right? 145 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:34,520 You you get it. So listen, I want to tell you 146 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:40,040 story. Monday night at my house, I was, 147 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:41,600 I was getting in bed. This is pretty funny. 148 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,200 I was getting in bed and my wife and I were getting in bed. 149 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:46,240 And as we were getting in bed, we get a phone call. 150 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,760 And this phone calls from our neighbors, It's my wife's great 151 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,520 aunt. She says, hey, you, have you 152 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:55,640 looked outside behind your house in the back pasture? 153 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,000 And we were like, no, She says, well, there's a buck out there. 154 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,780 I'm like, all right. And So what happens if you're a 155 00:08:03,780 --> 00:08:07,500 hunter in the room, You know you drop everything like babies 156 00:08:07,500 --> 00:08:09,020 crying. You just dropping let's go. 157 00:08:09,060 --> 00:08:11,660 Like it don't matter what it you dropping stuff and we going. 158 00:08:12,100 --> 00:08:15,060 And So what we did, my wife and I sorry baby. 159 00:08:15,300 --> 00:08:18,180 We dropped our Oreos and milk. And some of you may know the 160 00:08:18,180 --> 00:08:20,620 story. We like Oreos and milk and we 161 00:08:20,620 --> 00:08:22,660 dropped them and we went outside. 162 00:08:23,060 --> 00:08:24,940 We start looking. We don't see no deer. 163 00:08:25,450 --> 00:08:27,130 Well, I start walking out in the yard. 164 00:08:27,130 --> 00:08:30,490 I'm about 30-40 yards away from the house only to recognize I'm 165 00:08:30,490 --> 00:08:32,570 only in my underwear. And I know that my neighbor's 166 00:08:32,570 --> 00:08:34,450 still looking outside at these deer. 167 00:08:34,690 --> 00:08:37,090 I'm like, Oh my gosh. So my wife says she sees them 168 00:08:37,090 --> 00:08:38,970 back on the porch. I never had to leave the porch. 169 00:08:39,169 --> 00:08:42,090 So I go back up to the porch and we're looking through binoculars 170 00:08:42,370 --> 00:08:44,690 and next thing we see is this big deer. 171 00:08:44,890 --> 00:08:46,930 It's a massive body. I mean, you know what I'm 172 00:08:46,930 --> 00:08:48,570 talking about, like hunters in the room. 173 00:08:48,570 --> 00:08:50,050 You know, I'm talking about the heads down. 174 00:08:50,170 --> 00:08:52,090 You can't see the head yet. And here's wait, right. 175 00:08:52,450 --> 00:08:54,850 And next thing I know the head pops up. 176 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,720 And listen, I'm not like some of those people that I caught a 177 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:02,520 fish this big. Now, the massive 10 point buck 178 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,720 that just popped up in my binoculars, took my breath, and 179 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,840 I was like, oh, my gosh, this is like 75 to 100 yards away from 180 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,400 my house. I'm stoked. 181 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,560 I'm excited. Hunting season is right around 182 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:15,880 the corner. God, please just let this deer 183 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:17,040 come back. Please let this deer come back. 184 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,200 This one deer. Well, there's eight more deer. 185 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:24,600 And so to make this worse slash better five more of the 8:00. 186 00:09:25,130 --> 00:09:29,090 Put their head up and they are just as big, if not bigger than 187 00:09:29,090 --> 00:09:31,570 the 10 point that I just saw. This is no joke. 188 00:09:33,210 --> 00:09:38,210 I was flabbergasted and that's to say the anybody ever seen 189 00:09:38,210 --> 00:09:39,610 tallying? And I I was Ricky Bobby. 190 00:09:39,610 --> 00:09:41,090 I don't know what to do with my hands. 191 00:09:41,530 --> 00:09:44,090 Like I have no clue what to do with my hands right now. 192 00:09:44,410 --> 00:09:46,170 Oh my gosh, I said. Cassie, call your dad. 193 00:09:46,540 --> 00:09:47,940 Since her dad lives right up the road. 194 00:09:48,140 --> 00:09:50,020 And so I said call your dad. I don't know what to do. 195 00:09:50,140 --> 00:09:51,900 I can't do anything. I know it's not hunting season, 196 00:09:52,060 --> 00:09:54,020 but I'm like, this girl, she's just going to eat my bow, making 197 00:09:54,020 --> 00:09:56,620 it quiet and just doing it like I don't know what to do. 198 00:09:57,620 --> 00:09:59,540 Listen, if you're a hunter in the room, you get what I'm 199 00:09:59,540 --> 00:10:01,580 talking about. Like you understand it. 200 00:10:01,780 --> 00:10:03,780 There's a lot of prep that goes into hunting. 201 00:10:04,020 --> 00:10:07,100 There's a lot of getting ready that goes into hunting. 202 00:10:07,180 --> 00:10:08,660 For what? That one moment. 203 00:10:09,180 --> 00:10:13,750 The one moment. The one moment that comes and 204 00:10:13,750 --> 00:10:16,830 you are then equipped and ready because you've you've plowed the 205 00:10:16,830 --> 00:10:19,350 fields or or you've planted the food plot. 206 00:10:19,470 --> 00:10:21,550 You've put your stand in just the right spot. 207 00:10:21,550 --> 00:10:25,190 You've tracked acres upon acres upon acres, finding out where 208 00:10:25,190 --> 00:10:28,470 these deer go. And you're equipped and ready to 209 00:10:28,510 --> 00:10:34,150 aim and fire at the target. Peter here was equipped and 210 00:10:34,150 --> 00:10:38,750 ready to aim and fire the gospel of Jesus Christ. 211 00:10:39,100 --> 00:10:42,220 To the target of the Gentiles for the first time ever. 212 00:10:43,460 --> 00:10:46,900 And listen this, this Peter being ready wasn't of himself. 213 00:10:47,500 --> 00:10:49,820 No, Peter wasn't ready because of anything he did. 214 00:10:49,940 --> 00:10:53,780 However, it was what the Holy Spirit was doing within him that 215 00:10:53,780 --> 00:10:55,860 was readying Peter for the mission. 216 00:10:55,860 --> 00:10:59,140 As we talked about a few weeks ago, the assignment that he was 217 00:10:59,140 --> 00:11:01,060 given. David Platt puts it this way. 218 00:11:01,060 --> 00:11:02,500 I love how he states this, he said. 219 00:11:02,500 --> 00:11:06,780 God, starting with Peter, begins to bring about a conversion. 220 00:11:07,190 --> 00:11:13,670 From deep seated prejudice to divinely ordained openness, deep 221 00:11:13,670 --> 00:11:19,950 seated prejudice to divinely ordained openness, we get what 222 00:11:19,950 --> 00:11:22,150 was going on here. Like Jews, Gentiles. 223 00:11:22,150 --> 00:11:26,870 Not okay. Definitely wasn't okay for a 224 00:11:26,870 --> 00:11:31,670 clean as in the Jewish law man to step into a dirty Gentiles 225 00:11:31,670 --> 00:11:35,470 home. But that is what just happened. 226 00:11:37,380 --> 00:11:40,020 God all along wanted the apostles to understand that the 227 00:11:40,020 --> 00:11:43,540 gospel wasn't just for the Jews, rather it was for the Gentiles. 228 00:11:44,980 --> 00:11:47,700 Jesus last words here on earth. We're going to look at Matthew 229 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:52,340 28. We know this passage so well. 230 00:11:52,340 --> 00:11:56,460 It was His last words. Therefore go and make disciples 231 00:11:56,500 --> 00:11:59,620 of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, 232 00:11:59,740 --> 00:12:01,420 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Listen. 233 00:12:01,730 --> 00:12:03,770 The nation's in Old Testament teachings. 234 00:12:03,770 --> 00:12:05,810 Guess what that was? The Gentiles. 235 00:12:07,650 --> 00:12:09,610 Jesus was telling them all along. 236 00:12:09,690 --> 00:12:15,690 The gospel is for everyone. The gospel is for everyone. 237 00:12:15,690 --> 00:12:17,970 The sinners. That's who the Gospel's for. 238 00:12:19,090 --> 00:12:21,290 For you. That's who the gospel is for. 239 00:12:23,210 --> 00:12:25,290 Not only that Acts chapter one, verse eight. 240 00:12:25,290 --> 00:12:29,530 We see Jesus say this, but you will receive power when the Holy 241 00:12:29,530 --> 00:12:32,320 Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses 242 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,000 telling people about me. Where? 243 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,600 Everywhere. In Jerusalem, throughout Judea, 244 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,560 in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, Church. 245 00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:44,480 The gospel is not just for me and you, the Gospels for 246 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,710 everyone. The gospel is for everyone. 247 00:12:47,710 --> 00:12:51,710 The Jewish law continually put up walls, put up barriers to 248 00:12:51,710 --> 00:12:54,550 prevent the gospel from getting to the gentiles. 249 00:12:54,670 --> 00:12:56,470 But guess what? Through the blood of Jesus, he 250 00:12:56,470 --> 00:12:59,350 tore them down. Today there are walls that are 251 00:12:59,350 --> 00:13:04,470 put up all in our lives every day, from racism to political 252 00:13:04,470 --> 00:13:07,030 issues to anything you can think of from genders. 253 00:13:07,310 --> 00:13:10,750 The there are walls and bears being put up daily in our lives. 254 00:13:10,750 --> 00:13:14,270 And guess what? Jesus died once and for all to 255 00:13:14,310 --> 00:13:18,120 tear them down. That's what he did for us. 256 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:21,360 So the gospel church isn't just for me and you, it's for 257 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,720 everyone. Jesus died once and for all, 258 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,640 breaking down barriers and tearing down the walls of 259 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:31,040 hostility towards one another. Listen, every single barrier 260 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:35,200 that ever was and that ever will be was torn down by the blood of 261 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,360 Jesus. The Gospels for all, because 262 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,720 Jesus died for all. Ephesians 216. 263 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:44,160 Paul writes this together as one body. 264 00:13:45,550 --> 00:13:50,430 One body Christ reconciled both groups, Jews and Gentiles, 265 00:13:52,870 --> 00:14:03,990 blacks and whites, straight people and gay people is getting 266 00:14:03,990 --> 00:14:09,190 real. He tore down the walls for you 267 00:14:09,230 --> 00:14:14,150 and for me, because the gospel isn't just for the straight 268 00:14:14,150 --> 00:14:16,380 people. The gospel isn't just for the 269 00:14:16,380 --> 00:14:18,540 black person or the white person in the house this morning. 270 00:14:18,540 --> 00:14:21,660 Asian I don't care what you are. The gospel is not just for you. 271 00:14:21,660 --> 00:14:27,540 The gospel is for everyone, and Peter here recognized that. 272 00:14:30,140 --> 00:14:31,660 Listen, the gospel we know is for everyone. 273 00:14:31,660 --> 00:14:33,940 And if the gospel is for everyone that we understand that 274 00:14:33,940 --> 00:14:39,540 the gospel, the love of God that was displayed on the cross 275 00:14:39,540 --> 00:14:41,260 through the person of Jesus Christ. 276 00:14:45,270 --> 00:14:48,070 If you've experienced and accepted that love, guess what? 277 00:14:49,590 --> 00:14:53,750 You now do the same thing he did and you take that love to 278 00:14:53,790 --> 00:14:56,950 everyone because Jesus died for all. 279 00:14:57,030 --> 00:14:59,870 Once Peter accepted the fact about the gospel, what did he 280 00:14:59,870 --> 00:15:02,830 do? He was ready and the crossover 281 00:15:02,830 --> 00:15:07,870 that that threshold of the gentile door into Cornelius's 282 00:15:07,870 --> 00:15:08,830 home. And he was ready. 283 00:15:09,230 --> 00:15:12,590 And equipped to aim and fire the gospel for the first time to the 284 00:15:12,590 --> 00:15:14,030 Gentiles. And we see the stark 285 00:15:14,030 --> 00:15:17,550 transformation of the heart of Peter that took place in verses 286 00:15:17,590 --> 00:15:20,230 34 through 36. And it says this. 287 00:15:20,230 --> 00:15:24,070 Then Peter replied, I see very clearly that God shows what no 288 00:15:24,070 --> 00:15:28,350 favoritism in every nation. He accepts those who fear him 289 00:15:28,470 --> 00:15:31,310 and do what is right. This is the message of good news 290 00:15:31,310 --> 00:15:34,910 for the people of Israel there, that there is peace with God 291 00:15:34,910 --> 00:15:37,350 through Jesus Christ who is Lord. 292 00:15:37,870 --> 00:15:39,630 Of all this is the first thing I want to give you this morning 293 00:15:39,630 --> 00:15:46,710 Church God calls us to be one through his Son Jesus. 294 00:15:47,190 --> 00:15:50,790 God calls us to be one through his Son. 295 00:15:51,110 --> 00:15:56,470 Jesus, Jew Gentile made them one family under the blood of Jesus. 296 00:15:57,070 --> 00:15:58,830 David Platt also put it this way. 297 00:15:58,830 --> 00:16:02,110 When he preached this message, he said the gospel is good. 298 00:16:04,190 --> 00:16:06,630 You know it's good. We know it's good. 299 00:16:08,580 --> 00:16:12,340 It's a divine message, but it requires a human messenger. 300 00:16:12,980 --> 00:16:15,020 We are God's instrument to do this. 301 00:16:15,020 --> 00:16:20,660 Our responsibility is urgent. His power is available to us 302 00:16:21,380 --> 00:16:24,460 when we speak this word. He will bless it. 303 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:29,220 He will bless it to heal people or lead people to Christ. 304 00:16:30,500 --> 00:16:35,580 His power is available to His people and his plan is aimed at 305 00:16:35,620 --> 00:16:39,300 all peoples. My question to us this morning 306 00:16:40,820 --> 00:16:43,940 is, where are we aiming the gospel of Jesus? 307 00:16:45,060 --> 00:16:47,180 Where are we aiming the good news. 308 00:16:50,220 --> 00:16:52,380 The good news isn't just for you and I. 309 00:16:52,380 --> 00:16:57,700 As I stated earlier, the good news isn't just our safety net 310 00:16:57,980 --> 00:17:04,099 from hell. No, our good news is the weapon 311 00:17:04,099 --> 00:17:08,520 that we fight with. Against the walls and barriers 312 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:10,599 that have already been torn down and people are continually 313 00:17:10,599 --> 00:17:13,599 trying to put them up. That's what we fight with. 314 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,480 That's what we go out and spread church. 315 00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:22,760 The good news isn't for just you and your small group. 316 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,480 The good news isn't just for you and your team. 317 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,200 The good news isn't just for me and my family. 318 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:32,360 The good news isn't just for Riverman Church people that this 319 00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:34,840 seem like us. The good news isn't just for us. 320 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:41,160 No, the good news is for all and Jesus came because he was the 321 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:44,360 good news to and for us. And so we should do the same 322 00:17:44,360 --> 00:17:47,560 with the gospel and the love of Jesus that is in our hearts Go 323 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:53,320 to and for people. G Peter did this with three 324 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,080 pieces of the gospel and three movements of the gospel and I 325 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,760 want to look through those this morning as we're getting ready 326 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,640 to close the 1st. Is this the life and the 327 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:05,740 ministry? Of Jesus. 328 00:18:05,740 --> 00:18:09,100 If you have your Bibles, you can follow along with me this 329 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:12,740 morning. Then Peter up. 330 00:18:12,740 --> 00:18:15,980 And you know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in 331 00:18:15,980 --> 00:18:18,740 Galilee, after John began preaching his message of 332 00:18:18,740 --> 00:18:21,620 baptism. And you know that God anointed 333 00:18:21,620 --> 00:18:24,580 Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. 334 00:18:25,300 --> 00:18:28,100 Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were 335 00:18:28,100 --> 00:18:32,140 oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 336 00:18:34,550 --> 00:18:37,390 For God was with him. Listen, I'm going to, I'm going 337 00:18:37,390 --> 00:18:39,710 to give you keys to to presenting the gospel this 338 00:18:39,710 --> 00:18:41,790 morning. If you never have or maybe don't 339 00:18:41,790 --> 00:18:44,830 understand. First it's the life and ministry 340 00:18:44,830 --> 00:18:47,350 of Jesus. You tell them what Jesus did, 341 00:18:48,030 --> 00:18:54,270 how he came and lived a sinless life for us all peoples, all 342 00:18:54,270 --> 00:18:57,270 peoples. Not just you and me, but he died 343 00:18:57,270 --> 00:18:58,310 for all. You start there. 344 00:18:58,310 --> 00:19:03,630 Then you go to #2, the act of crucifixion and resurrection. 345 00:19:04,370 --> 00:19:08,130 Peter puts it like this, and we apostles are witnesses of all he 346 00:19:08,130 --> 00:19:10,290 did through Judea, and in Jerusalem. 347 00:19:10,850 --> 00:19:14,410 They put him to death by hanging him on a cross. 348 00:19:14,650 --> 00:19:19,570 Jesus died, but God raised him to life on the third day, when 349 00:19:19,570 --> 00:19:25,010 God allowed him to appear not to the general public, but to us, 350 00:19:25,170 --> 00:19:28,890 whom he had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. 351 00:19:29,010 --> 00:19:32,290 We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the 352 00:19:32,290 --> 00:19:35,660 dead. So he did not only just die for 353 00:19:35,660 --> 00:19:42,260 our sins so that we could be forgiven, He didn't just do 354 00:19:42,260 --> 00:19:45,820 that. He was putting it to him for 355 00:19:45,820 --> 00:19:50,140 three days, and then after those three days, he rose. 356 00:19:51,660 --> 00:19:57,860 That resurrection gives you hope and a future from now on because 357 00:19:57,860 --> 00:19:59,660 of the love of Jesus that you have in your heart. 358 00:20:01,690 --> 00:20:05,290 That resurrection gives you eternal life, because Christ 359 00:20:05,290 --> 00:20:09,890 defeated death, hell, and the grave for you and for me and for 360 00:20:09,890 --> 00:20:12,450 every single person that's outside of these walls until the 361 00:20:12,490 --> 00:20:17,610 ends of the earth. So you tell him about what he 362 00:20:17,610 --> 00:20:21,850 did, the sinless life that he lived, that I couldn't live, 363 00:20:22,010 --> 00:20:28,460 that you cannot live. And then he died on a cross so 364 00:20:28,460 --> 00:20:33,860 that you might have life in him and through what he did that 365 00:20:33,860 --> 00:20:39,420 your sins would be washed away. Romans A1 says there's now no 366 00:20:39,420 --> 00:20:43,020 condemnation for those that belong in Christ Jesus. 367 00:20:43,100 --> 00:20:45,900 Listen, if you belong in Christ Jesus, let me tell you something 368 00:20:45,900 --> 00:20:48,420 this morning. You are not condemned by your 369 00:20:48,420 --> 00:20:51,900 sin. Rather, you can live to Christ 370 00:20:51,900 --> 00:20:57,310 Jesus that died for you. And then he rose, giving us 371 00:20:57,310 --> 00:21:00,870 eternal life and a hope in a future with him in heaven. 372 00:21:00,870 --> 00:21:09,950 One day the best is yet to come, #3 The promise of salvation is 373 00:21:09,950 --> 00:21:16,870 for everyone who believes. Verse 42 And he ordered us to 374 00:21:16,870 --> 00:21:22,270 preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed 375 00:21:22,270 --> 00:21:25,430 by God to be the judge of all the living and the dead. 376 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:29,280 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that 377 00:21:29,360 --> 00:21:37,000 everyone, everyone chew Gentile. Everyone who believes in him 378 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,760 will have their sins forgiven through his name. 379 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:51,760 Your Romans, if you confess with your mouth to Jesus Lord, and 380 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:56,610 believe in your heart that God raise Jesus from the dead, you 381 00:21:56,610 --> 00:22:00,650 will be saved. This morning, This morning. 382 00:22:00,650 --> 00:22:03,450 My prayer is that for you? Because I want you to understand 383 00:22:03,450 --> 00:22:05,210 this. The last thing in In just a 384 00:22:05,210 --> 00:22:06,370 moment I'm going to leave you. This is this. 385 00:22:06,370 --> 00:22:09,290 It's only by the good news of Jesus. 386 00:22:10,770 --> 00:22:18,450 There is one way, one way. It doesn't matter how good you 387 00:22:18,450 --> 00:22:20,490 are. It doesn't matter how much of 388 00:22:20,490 --> 00:22:23,610 the Bible you know. Those are all good things. 389 00:22:25,290 --> 00:22:33,610 But true life is only found in the good news of Jesus that 390 00:22:33,610 --> 00:22:40,410 someone knows God's love. It's only through that, you 391 00:22:40,410 --> 00:22:44,610 know, being a hunter, typically something we like is is guns, 392 00:22:44,610 --> 00:22:46,570 right? We enjoy them. 393 00:22:46,730 --> 00:22:48,690 And for me particularly, I kind of like old guns. 394 00:22:48,930 --> 00:22:53,690 I think they're really cool and fascinating, particularly like 395 00:22:53,690 --> 00:22:57,050 war guns. My dad had had one, it was 396 00:22:57,050 --> 00:23:00,730 really cool. One of them was called a musket. 397 00:23:02,130 --> 00:23:04,890 And so just explain a musket and how it works. 398 00:23:04,890 --> 00:23:07,490 Works a little different than than other guns and and 399 00:23:07,490 --> 00:23:09,770 all-encompassing is the same but it works a little different. 400 00:23:09,930 --> 00:23:12,090 In the setup process starts like this. 401 00:23:12,370 --> 00:23:15,810 You get some powder, black powder, you get some firing 402 00:23:15,810 --> 00:23:17,290 powder, make it easier to understand. 403 00:23:17,290 --> 00:23:19,690 You put it down the barrel and you tamp it down. 404 00:23:20,690 --> 00:23:24,430 Then you take a projectile, the bullet per se, and you put it in 405 00:23:24,430 --> 00:23:31,350 there and you tamp it down. And then after that you pull 406 00:23:31,350 --> 00:23:33,190 back this metal piece called a Flint. 407 00:23:34,270 --> 00:23:40,750 You pull it back and when that is pulled back your gun is 408 00:23:40,750 --> 00:23:43,790 primed and ready to aim and fire. 409 00:23:47,630 --> 00:23:51,430 But what happens to fire something that can be shot out 410 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:59,080 and can kill? This projectile is made to move 411 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,720 when that Flint drops and hits what's called the prison. 412 00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:07,040 And you know what that is? It creates a small spark. 413 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,400 A very small spark that's not even big enough to kill a fly. 414 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:19,080 A spark. Listen, Cornelius, His family, 415 00:24:19,850 --> 00:24:22,530 his friends that were sitting in the house listening to Peter, 416 00:24:24,330 --> 00:24:30,730 they were primed, that is, of a musket and ready to hear the 417 00:24:30,730 --> 00:24:33,570 gospel of Jesus. But guess what? 418 00:24:33,570 --> 00:24:37,490 It took a spark. A spark. 419 00:24:38,250 --> 00:24:45,130 And Peter was the carrier to the spark that they needed church. 420 00:24:45,130 --> 00:24:50,670 If you are a follower currently in Jesus Christ, you contain the 421 00:24:50,670 --> 00:24:55,030 spark that this world needs. You do. 422 00:24:56,790 --> 00:24:58,390 Where are you aimed with the gospel? 423 00:24:58,390 --> 00:25:01,790 Because the gospel's for all people, everyone. 424 00:25:02,550 --> 00:25:05,150 The person that's not like you in your office, that you've been 425 00:25:05,310 --> 00:25:07,350 staying away from because you don't really like them that 426 00:25:07,350 --> 00:25:10,670 much. The person on your team that you 427 00:25:10,670 --> 00:25:12,710 kind of stray away from because they're not like you. 428 00:25:13,270 --> 00:25:14,710 You don't really like them that much. 429 00:25:17,660 --> 00:25:19,460 That neighbor that just gets on your nerves. 430 00:25:19,460 --> 00:25:22,700 I know we all have them. You just stray away from them. 431 00:25:26,780 --> 00:25:32,340 You contain the spark. You contain the spark that can 432 00:25:32,340 --> 00:25:36,980 start a fire in their life. They can transform their life 433 00:25:37,140 --> 00:25:43,660 from dead to life. The Gospels for all, where we 434 00:25:43,660 --> 00:25:46,620 aimed with the good news of Jesus Christ. 435 00:25:48,190 --> 00:25:51,310 The last thing this morning is you are the carrier to the spark 436 00:25:51,310 --> 00:25:56,110 that they need. You are the carrier to the spark 437 00:25:56,270 --> 00:25:58,710 Do they need Oakwood? This morning I'm going to turn 438 00:25:58,710 --> 00:26:00,310 it over to Pastor Greg. We love you. 439 00:26:00,750 --> 00:26:02,550 Thank you for spending time with us this morning. 440 00:26:04,950 --> 00:26:14,010 Church, maybe this morning. You're like, I know I'm the 441 00:26:14,010 --> 00:26:16,250 spark carry. I know I have Jesus's love 442 00:26:16,250 --> 00:26:21,530 within my heart. But maybe I just now recognized 443 00:26:21,530 --> 00:26:25,290 that the gospel isn't just for me. 444 00:26:25,290 --> 00:26:29,010 In my family, in my household, in this church, the Gospels for 445 00:26:29,010 --> 00:26:30,690 everyone. And there's that person that I'm 446 00:26:30,690 --> 00:26:34,330 thinking of right now. In my mind, I'm thinking of 447 00:26:34,330 --> 00:26:39,190 them, and I know it is my job to go to tell them the gospel of 448 00:26:39,270 --> 00:26:40,710 Jesus. Listen, I just told you how to 449 00:26:40,710 --> 00:26:42,990 present the gospel quite clearly. 450 00:26:43,070 --> 00:26:49,710 Simply put, he came and lived on this earth, a sinless life that 451 00:26:49,710 --> 00:26:52,670 we couldn't live. Standing in the gap for you and 452 00:26:52,670 --> 00:26:57,150 I, He died and his blood that was shed on the cross covered 453 00:26:57,150 --> 00:27:00,950 our sins so that we may be found right with God. 454 00:27:02,390 --> 00:27:08,970 And because he did that, we can have a life in Him, and not just 455 00:27:08,970 --> 00:27:11,850 life in Him. We can have eternal life in Him 456 00:27:11,850 --> 00:27:15,930 because of His resurrection and our hope that He's coming back 457 00:27:15,930 --> 00:27:19,850 for us someday. And that's our hope. 458 00:27:22,850 --> 00:27:25,650 And they have to place their faith in Jesus. 459 00:27:25,650 --> 00:27:28,250 Call upon the name of the Lord and you'll be saved. 460 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:33,440 The easiest way, we may think. Sometimes that's just too 461 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:35,200 difficult. Pressing like that's so hard. 462 00:27:36,120 --> 00:27:38,720 I want to tell you the easiest way to proclaim the Gospels with 463 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:41,840 your life, your actions, your words. 464 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:47,320 Tell them your story and tell them how Jesus has transformed 465 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,160 your heart, just as he did Peter's heart. 466 00:27:53,160 --> 00:28:03,830 Tell him, she says. We'll be known by how we love 467 00:28:03,830 --> 00:28:05,390 one another. We'll be known that we are 468 00:28:05,390 --> 00:28:09,950 believers, followers of Jesus, by how we love one another. 469 00:28:10,790 --> 00:28:11,910 So maybe this morning, that's you. 470 00:28:11,910 --> 00:28:14,470 You need to go out with the spark that you have. 471 00:28:15,750 --> 00:28:17,150 Maybe there's somebody in the room. 472 00:28:19,190 --> 00:28:22,150 Maybe there's somebody in the room online with us this morning 473 00:28:22,150 --> 00:28:24,870 that the spark just went off in your life. 474 00:28:25,590 --> 00:28:29,800 You understood the gospel. You understand that he died for 475 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:31,880 your sin so that you might have life in him. 476 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:34,920 You understood that, and the spark just happened in your 477 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:38,400 life. Listen, you don't have to come 478 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:42,360 down to an altar and say a prayer, because if we go on a 479 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:46,400 few verses later, going into verses 44 through 48, guess what 480 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,720 happened? The Holy Spirit fell on the 481 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:53,080 people before Peter even got done with the message. 482 00:28:53,930 --> 00:28:57,770 The Holy Spirit fell, and they received the power of the Holy 483 00:28:57,770 --> 00:28:59,930 Spirit in their life. Maybe that was you this morning. 484 00:28:59,930 --> 00:29:04,250 The spark happened and it lit. It lit in your life. 485 00:29:04,490 --> 00:29:06,850 I want you to do this this morning as we're about to get up 486 00:29:06,850 --> 00:29:09,970 and sing about the same God that was with Peter and with Paul and 487 00:29:09,970 --> 00:29:13,100 the He's the same God that lives with us today. 488 00:29:13,300 --> 00:29:15,100 I want you to turn to somebody and I want you to tell them in 489 00:29:15,100 --> 00:29:16,980 just a minute. I want to say I just had the 490 00:29:16,980 --> 00:29:19,180 spark. I had the spark. 491 00:29:19,540 --> 00:29:23,060 The spark happened in my life and I'm forever changed. 492 00:29:23,380 --> 00:29:25,220 I don't understand it all. And you don't have to. 493 00:29:25,460 --> 00:29:28,180 All you have to understand is you're a Sinner and you need for 494 00:29:28,220 --> 00:29:31,380 a savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ. 495 00:29:32,420 --> 00:29:34,740 So this morning, as we're about to stand together and we're 496 00:29:34,740 --> 00:29:40,920 going to sing He is the same God, I want you to tell 497 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,440 somebody, maybe you need to move forward this morning. 498 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:47,440 This place, right here, these few steps, this front is a place 499 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:50,640 where we come and we fall on our knees before a holy God. 500 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:54,000 They say, God, I'm giving it to you. 501 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:56,920 I'm going to follow you in this way. 502 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,400 I'm going to carry the spark out into the outermost parts of the 503 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:01,480 world. Maybe some of you are being 504 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:03,920 called to that. I'm going to carry the spark to 505 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,080 my neighbor, to my friend that I don't want to tell about Jesus 506 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:09,770 because I'm afraid, listen, he will never leave you. 507 00:30:09,770 --> 00:30:13,570 He'll never forsake you. God is stirring up a work in our 508 00:30:13,570 --> 00:30:17,970 heart church in his time for us to take the gospel because 509 00:30:17,970 --> 00:30:23,850 everybody is in need of it. So this morning, I want you to 510 00:30:23,850 --> 00:30:29,570 respond how you see fit and if you had the spark, tell 511 00:30:29,570 --> 00:30:31,010 somebody. I'll see what. 512 00:30:31,010 --> 00:30:33,250 I want you to fill it out on that connect card you received 513 00:30:33,250 --> 00:30:35,010 on your way in. Because I want to reach out to 514 00:30:35,010 --> 00:30:36,370 you. Our pastors on staff want to 515 00:30:36,370 --> 00:30:39,520 reach out to you, and we want to love you and walk with you in 516 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:44,200 the next steps of your life. So as I pray you stand, you 517 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:46,480 move. Let's worship Jesus in that way 518 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:47,880 this morning. We love you, Jesus. 519 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,760 This morning, Father, we know that you are the spark that this 520 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:55,440 world needs to light it up. And Father, you used 12 521 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,440 disciples to do it. And God, now you're giving it to 522 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:02,080 us. The same spark that was there 523 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:05,720 within, the same spark is with us today. 524 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:08,440 And so we're going to take it out, get to the walls. 525 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:10,800 We're going to take it outside of the walls. 526 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,720 We're going to take it to the outermost parts of the world. 527 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:16,080 And we're going to tell people of your love, We love you, 528 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:17,080 Jesus. It's in your name. 529 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:18,480 We pray. Amen. 530 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:22,800 Thank you for listening to the Riverbend Church Podcast. 531 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:25,960 Learn more about who we are as a church and how to connect. 532 00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:29,000 You can head over to our website Riverbend Church dot Life.