Acts Chapter 10 Verses 17 – 20

• That is a really important couple of sentences right there! The Holy Spirit said to him…and then…doubt nothing, for I have sent them!  Why is that so ultra important!?  Because a force does not speak…a force does not send.  An “it” doesn’t speak (unless they’re in a storm drain with a red balloon)…HA!  What’s my point!?  I want you to see that this is just one clear and excellent passage that we can look to in order to understand that the Holy Spirit is not an “it” but rather a “Him.”  He is a Person…the third Person of the 3-in-1, triune God!
• He speaks, He sends, He reassures…He works and He exhibits personality traits as He can be grieved…Ephesians 4:30 says, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption!” And so…ultra important and I hope you can hear, see and understand that the Holy Spirit is indeed a Person and He speaks to Peter giving Peter direction concerning his vision. 
• Have you had a vision, a dream, a thought, a moment and you just know it’s from the Lord? Especially if it included Golden Corral!?  HA!!  BUT, you don’t quite know what it meant…?  That’s ok!  That doesn’t mean it’s not from the Lord…seek the Lord for the meaning!  I have heard the most beautiful visions, even one this week from a dear brother and the meaning, although perhaps not fully understood yet, is just such a blessing…seek the Lord, get into His Word, pray…wonder…the Holy Spirit will speak to you too if it is from Him…
• By the way, side note, do you know what grieves the Holy Spirit? That is if you care to know…I do…because this reveals not only God’s heart to me but also I am keenly interested in worshipping Him because He is good…so what grieves Him…read Chapter 4 in Ephesians…  Hard-heartedness.  Unforgiveneness.  Forgetting what Jesus has done for you…just a side note there…

Acts Chapter 10 Verse 21

• I wonder what Peter’s reaction was as he came down the stairs and realized the three men were Roman and one was a decorated soldier…what a flood of wonder, confusion, fear…intimidation… God sent me three Isis fighters?  Right?!  But he goes anyway, trusting God and even though he is no doubt confused and fearful, you’d never know it…God can do that to the heart of an obedient man…
• Many times I’m terrified of you people! HA!  Everyone wants good jokes!  New points!  I have neither!  HA!  But truly God hasn’t called me to either…He’s called me to teach His word unashamedly and without apology...and so no matter the fear or anxiety, here I am and I have seen such wonderful fruit over the years simply from someone learning the Word of God…but I still pray for good jokes and points!  HA!! 

Acts Chapter 10 Verses 22 – 23

• I like that…we just read that Peter invited them in and lodged them…that word in the Greek is literally he, “showed them hospitality and treated them as guests.” We ought to do that…to those who we think God will never receive.  What if our training was to be kind?  You know…the martial artist trains a block if the fist is coming…the football player trains a block if the blitz is coming…what if we trained…kindness?  What if we started from a position of love and hospitality?  How many more souls would be saved from hell?  What was Jesus’ play?  What was His approach…
• John 3:17 says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved!” His position wasn’t condemnation, His position was salvation…It’s difficult, especially at home…with kids that are hard to deal with and a spouse that you’ve grown so comfortable with and accustomed to…but that’s the flesh…the spirit leads in humility, love and service…Best way to strengthen the spirit is to feed it…btw…

Acts Chapter 10 Verses 24 – 26

• Why did this happen? Why does this still happen today?  Men worshipping other men instead of God?  Because men want to be worshipped…  That’s the hunger of flesh…the crave of sin.  Hear me, heed me, obey me, respect me, praise me, regard me, revere me…these are all the voice of the flesh and not the spirit.  The serpent said to the humans, in the day that you eat of this fruit, you will be like God…Here’s the catch, but you’re not Him. 
• And therein lies the birth of the flesh and the snare of the devil…why do we still see this today? Because men still want to be God, even you and I deal with this…I’m sure even Peter still dealt with this…we’re not told how long Cornelius was at Peter’s feet!  HA!! 

Acts Chapter 10 Verses 27 – 33

• Spurgeon was once asked, “What does it take to make a good preacher?” His response was, “A good congregation!”  Oh my how true that is!  I love this statement by Cornelius!  He recognizes that he is in the presence of God, to hear from God…through Peter!  And what has prepared him?  What makes this good for Cornelius?  He had been spending time with God on his own…that makes a good congregation.  Growing up in the Lord.  He must increase, I must decrease.  Maturity and strength of faith…makes not good preaching…but good listening!

Acts Chapter 10 Verses 34 – 43

• Whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. First thing you’ve got to see here is that there is no mention of baptism.  Why?  Because baptism is not for salvation, it’s because of salvation!  Baptism puts on display for heaven and earth that we believe!  Second, this word for believe isn’t head knowledge…in it is hidden the root word for discipline or disciple…it means commitment, trust, devotion and resolution!  Belief unto salvation is to enter the kingdom as a subject, a child of God.  Under Him and for Him…defaulting to Him and trusting Him with your whole heart…and in that is the remission, the renunciation of sin!

Acts Chapter 10 Verses 44 – 46a

• Which is what tongues will always do. The Bible says that if a man speaks in a tongue he does not speak to men but to God…and so any interpretation of prophecy or encouragement or admonition, sorry…God needs none of those things…something is not correct in that circumstance…

Acts Chapter 10 Verses 46 – 48

• I absolutely love this and am amazed that Chapter 10 finishes like that because we have a scheduled baptism service today as well. They believe, they are anointed by the Holy Spirit…and then they are baptized…A perfect pattern and picture of what continues even today…