What does it mean to truly hear from God—and how can we know whether we are following His will?
In Episode 129 of the Legacy Bible Podcast, we return to Acts 11 and follow Peter as he explains to the apostles what happened when he entered the home of Cornelius, a Gentile, and witnessed the Holy Spirit come upon those who received the gospel.
Peter's experience challenged deeply held prejudices and demonstrated that God's salvation was not limited to one people. The apostles ultimately recognized that God had granted repentance and life to the Gentiles as well.
This message explores the ways God communicates His truth, emphasizing the authority of the written Word of God and the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. We are reminded that personal spiritual guidance must never contradict Scripture, must glorify Jesus Christ, and must be received by a believer who is clean, surrendered, available, and willing to obey.
The message also brings a powerful challenge for evangelism. Sharing the gospel requires more than simply speaking about Christ. We must be willing to set aside our prejudices, live clean lives, obey God's direction, and welcome those who respond to the gospel as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The central question is simple but searching:
What will rule your life—your own desires and prejudices, or God?
Listen and consider what it means to hear God's Word, follow the Holy Spirit, overcome prejudice, and faithfully bring the gospel to others.
Peter's response captures the heart of the message:
"What was I, that I could withstand God?"
Peter had to choose between his own expectations and God's revealed purpose. His willingness to obey opened the door for the gospel to reach people he previously would not have considered.
This episode draws heavily from the following passages:
1. God's Word is our objective foundation
The written Word of God provides the foundation by which we understand God's truth. Personal impressions and spiritual experiences must never be allowed to contradict Scripture.
2. The Holy Spirit teaches and guides believers
The message emphasizes the Holy Spirit's continuing work in the believer. The Spirit teaches, leads, and brings God's truth to bear upon specific circumstances.
3. Personal guidance must be tested
A personal spiritual impression is not the same as the objective written Word of God. Because the human heart can deceive us, personal guidance must be approached carefully and tested against Scripture.
4. God requires surrender
Being useful to God requires more than simply hearing His Word. We must be willing to surrender our desires, preferences, prejudices, and plans to Him.
5. God's direction may challenge our prejudices
Peter did not naturally want to enter the home of Gentiles. Yet God told him to go. Peter had to set aside his own restrictions and obey God's direction.
6. The Holy Spirit always glorifies Jesus
Any genuine work of the Spirit will be consistent with God's Word and will ultimately bring glory to Jesus Christ rather than to the individual.
7. Evangelism requires a surrendered life
The message challenges believers to share the gospel from lives that are clean, surrendered, available, and obedient to God.
8. New believers should be welcomed
When the Gentiles received Christ, the apostles did not reject them because of their background. Instead, they glorified God and welcomed them as fellow believers.
A Challenge for Believers
Peter's experience in Acts 11 forces us to examine our own hearts.
Are there people we would rather not reach?
Are there prejudices, preferences, or assumptions that prevent us from obeying God's direction?
Are we willing to say, as Peter did:
"What was I, that I could withstand God?"
Following Christ means allowing God's Word and Spirit to reshape our attitudes, priorities, relationships, and actions.
True evangelism is not simply delivering a message. It is being willing to become God's messenger.
Evangelism and the Heart of the Message
One of the strongest applications of this sermon concerns evangelism.
The gospel is meant to cross barriers.
Peter had to cross the barrier between Jew and Gentile. The early church had to learn that those who received Christ were not outsiders who merely needed to be brought into their fellowship. They were now brothers and sisters in Christ.
The message challenges Christians to open their hearts to those who respond to the gospel and to love them as fellow members of God's family.
Questions for Personal Reflection
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please come back every week for another legacy lesson from the bible by the Rev Chuck Rains.
All audio sermons were previously recorded at the Fellowship Bible Church and recorded on cassette tape and transferred into digital format.
All content is from the Fellowship Bible Church and edited from the morning or evening service and taught by the pastor the Rev. Chuck Rains.
Also just a reminder, don't forget to read your bible everyday, and pray for the podcast, so that all the world may hear God's message for their life.
