A Study of the Book of Acts
Sermon # 21
The Art of Really Listening
Acts 10:24-48
You will remember that in our last study of the Book of Acts we left Peter as he had arrived at the house of Cornelius. At Caesarea they met Cornelius and those whom he had gathered to hear Peter’s message. It would be wonderful if every preacher, when he stood up to preach, should find the receptive that Peter found gathered in the house of Cornelius. Cornelius had been prepared by God, and Peter had been prepared by God. But they were not the only ones who had been prepared. Cornelius had prepared his whole household, and now they were anxiously waiting to hear from Peter. God had prepared Cornelius, the preacher and Peter and the audience.
“And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. (25) As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. (26) But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” (27) And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. (28) Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. (29) Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?” (30) So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, (31) and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. (32) Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ (33) So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” (34) Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. (35) But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (36) The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— (37) that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: (38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (39) And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. (40) Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, (41) not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. (42) And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. (43) To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (44) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. (45) And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, (47) “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.”(NKJV)
I. THE PREPARATION OF PETER
Peter has received a vision from the Lord that has opened his eyes about his prejudicial view concerning the Gentiles. It was God who opened his eyes that he should not deem anyone as beyond reach by the Gospel. God gave new truth to Peter and then gave him an opportunity to act on what he had learned. Just as his vision is over the couriers arrive from Cornelius requesting him to come to Caesarea.
I believe that it is often the case that the Lord shows us some new truth and then gives us an opportunity to act on what we have learned. This new truth in our lives may have come in personal bible study, or a class or a sermon, but when God has challenged our hearts, he often provides situations or circumstances that call upon us to put those principles into practice.
Peter had learned the lesson well and he responses to the welcome into Cornelius’ house by saying, “God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”
II. THE PROCLAMATION OF PETER vv. 34-43
It is exciting to see how Peter packed so much into a short message. We sometimes confuse length with effectiveness. This was certainly not true for the apostle under the direction of the Holy Spirit he was both insightful and succinct. He covers all the necessary ground; who Jesus is, and what Jesus did.
A. Peter presented Jesus as the Peace of God. (v. 36).
“The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—“
Romans 5:1
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (NKJV)
Ephesians 2:14
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,” (NKJV)
B. Peter presented Jesus as the Power of God. (v. 36)
“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,”
As believers we need more than just peace with God we need the power to live out the Christian life. That power is available through Jesus Christ.
C. Peter presented Jesus as the Presence of God (v. 38)
“….. for God was with Him.”
Jesus more than just a messenger from God. Jesus was more than the world’s greatest teacher. Jesus was more than the greatest prophet. He was God in human form.
D. Peter presented Jesus as the Pardon of God (v. 43)
“To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
The greatest need that an of us has is the need to be forgiven and Peter presents Jesus as the means through which we can be pardoned from our past.
“He sensed Cornelius’ estrangement, so he presented Jesus as the peace of God. He discerned Cornelius’ feeling of inadequacy, so he presented Jesus as power of God. He felt Cornelius’ guilt, so he presented Jesus as the pardon of God.”[Brian L. Harbour. Living Expectantly (Nashville: Broadman, 1990). p.92. ]
Peter presented Jesus so that Cornelius knew that he met his every need and in the middle of the message Cornelius yielded himself to Christ.
III. PRINCIPLES OF PARTICIPATORY LISTENING
Communication studies show us that generally those Audiences who come prepared to receive the message are the ones who get the most from the message. When you come to church do you what to hear a good message? Then the best way is to come with a prepared heart.
It must have been exciting and a distinct pleasure to preach to an audience as prepared as those who had assembled in the house of Cornelius. Contrary to popular opinion, preaching is not a “spectator sport.” There need to be a recognition that some participation is expected by those receiving the preaching. It is an active rather than a passive event.
Jesus once warned his disciples (Luke 8:18) that they should, “take heed how you hear.” Too many people see preaching as one-way communication, and that its success or failure rests solely on the preacher. It may be alarming to realize that scripture had as much to say about the listener’s responsibility to hear, understand and implement the message as it does about the preacher’s obligation to preach.
Little things are often more significant than we realize. One of those is that the way that we listen is indicative of our real interest in spiritual things. Tonight I want to share with you from the vantage point of the preacher how you can be an active listener.
There are thee general principles essential to getting more out of the sermon.
There is the principle of preparation. Any farmer can tell you that when the seed is sown everything depends on the condition of the soil. So it is also true with the listener’s heart. I believe that it significant that the Jewish Sabbath started on the evening before. Many people drag their weary bodies into the service without adequate rest. They stay up late on Saturday night and then they fight to stay awake in the services. The obvious truth is that sleepy listeners are poor listeners.
There is the principle of predisposition. Listeners with bad attitudes are poor listeners. It is your job to prepare yourself to receive the message from God. No one but you can prepare your heart. If you come with the expectation that you will receive nothing from the message, guess what? You will receive nothing from the message. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
There is also the principle of Participation. You need to feel involved in what is going on. Here are some ways to feel more involved.
1. Bring your Bible to every service.
2. Sit closer to the front.
3. Don’t be overly concerned with the clock (Acts 20:7-12)
4. Be conscious of your body language. Posture indicates interest and attitude.
5. Maintain eye contact with the speaker.
6. Listen sympathetically. (Ignore insignificant slip-ups)
7. Resist distractions. There was a man in our church some years ago when we were in the old auditorium that would met me at the door after the service and says something like, “Well you preached 28 minutes and 32 seconds and by the way there are 1,276 knot holes in this ceiling.” I doubt very seriously if he could have told me the subject of the message that is being distracted.
8. Avoid being a distraction. Don’t leave the service once it is started unless it is a emergency.
9. Actually pay attention.
10. Study, think deeply, and exert some mental effort.
Look up the some passages, but not necessarily all.
11. Make notes, you will remember more.
12. Listen for personal application.
As a man rose from the pew one Sunday after the message he remarked, “Well, the sermon is over.” To which another man replied, “No, now is when it begins!” That is the kind of hearing that pleases God. James tells us that we are to “be doers of the word and not hearers only.” (James 1:23-25).
Conclusion
Whenever the gospel is preached, God is glorified. Other things besides the gospel can be shared in the place of gospel, it may even produce results. People may be pleased and say, “That was wonderful” But if it is not the gospel, it will not be blessed by God in the saving of souls and the changing of human lives. What God has always used to turn men and women from sin and to empower them to live victoriously is the good news of Christ, crucified, risen and coming again.
