Episode 119: Acts 10 - Houses of Fire - An Old Wineskin as a New Wineskin?

ACTS 10 – Houses of Fire – A New Wineskin? A New Strategy?A.    Introduction ·      December 31st, 2019 – “No Disease known to man” (in a HOUSE)·      March 2020 – our Church moved back into our HOUSE·      May 1st, 2020 – Governor Newsom said churches will be closed for months       Holy Spirit spoke - “It’s time to come home”       “There’s no place like homes, there’s no place like homes”·      June 2020 - House Church? Confusion. For the Church? For the lost? (evangelistic)Trip to Oregon – Cornelius – Persian Motors·      January 2022 – ROCK OC begins in a house B.    ACTS 10 – “Houses of Fire – A New Wineskin? A New Strategy? 1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day (WHILE IN PRAYER – v. 30) he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” (HIS NAME) 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. (HIS PRAYERS) 5 And now send men to Joppa (PETER’S CITY) and bring one Simon who is called Peter (PETER’S FULL NAME).  *WHO IS CALLING WHO?* - Lost calling the saved – Are we expecting this?? 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. (PETER’S ADDRESS!)”7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.  *FIRST-TIME OBEDIENCE* 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. (WHILE IN PRAYER) 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”  *ROLE OF SUPERNATURAL* - New Wineskins often require it. i.e. Muslims*3 encounters + 1 Holy Spirit “says”* - WE can be STUCK in our ways, methods, expectations 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house (VIOLATION!) and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and *went away with them* (WITHOUT the “Approval” of the other Apostles!), and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Corneliu(continued)