Peter's Vision

Peter’s Vision

Acts 10:9 – 10:23

Jeff Hughes – July 20, 2003

Calvary Chapel Aggieland

I. Introduction

a. Ever been in a situation where someone was trying maybe not so subtly to get your attention? You know, like when you’re at a restaurant, and you have a small bit of food on your face. Whenever, I’m in that situation, Stacie wipes the same spot on her face a couple of times, thinking I’ll get the hint.

b. Where I used to just blindly go about my business, now, after ten years of marriage, I’ll wipe the corner of my mouth. This is because I have picked up on this, and try to save myself the embarrassment of her telling me to wipe my mouth.

c. Well, today’s study deals with this very idea. God had a message for Peter, and He really wanted Peter to get it, so He let’s Peter pick up on it himself. But, more than just Peter, though. What God was trying to tell him would impact the church from that day forward.

d. God wanted to show His grace and mercy to all people, not just a select few, and we will see this as we continue our study through the book of Acts today, but first, let’s take a moment to pray and ask the Lord’s blessing on our study this morning.

II. PRAYER

III. Illustration

a. Several years ago a story came out about a man by the name of Larry Walters, a 33-year-old man who decided he wanted to see his neighborhood from a new perspective. So, he went down to the local army surplus store and bought forty-five used weather balloons.

b. That afternoon he strapped himself into a lawn chair, to which several of his friends tied the now helium-filled used weather balloons. He took with him, something to drink, a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, and a BB gun, figuring he could shoot the balloons one at a time when he was ready to land.

c. Walters, who assumed the balloons would lift him about 100 feet in the air, was caught off guard when the chair soared more than 11,000 feet into the sky--smack into the middle of the air traffic pattern at Los Angeles International Airport. Because he was too frightened to shoot any of the balloons, he stayed airborne for more than two hours, and forced the airport to shut down its runways for much of the afternoon.

d. Soon after he was safely grounded and cited by the police, reporters asked him three questions:

"Were you scared? "Yes."

"Would you do it again? "No.

"Why did you do it?" His answer is no less intriguing than his flight itself. "Because a man can’t just sit around."

e. In our message today, we will look at a man that needed a change of perspective. We will see just how God accomplishes that today.

f. Our study comes from Acts, chapter 10 verse 9, through verse 23, as we continue our study this morning. Let’s read along -

IV. Study

a. Intro

i. 9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. 17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

ii. 19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them." 21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?" 22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you." 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.