Friendship Community Baptist Church

Discerning God’s Work
Acts 11:1-18

Main Point
Peter’s story teaches us how to discern God’s work

Intro: concern about the gospel going to the Gentiles (vv. 1-4)
How Peter discerned God’s work
He was praying (v. 5)
God showed him a vision (vv. 5-10)
Peter didn’t understand
God repeats it three times
The Spirit told him to go with men who came for him (vv. 11-12)
Peter took six believers with him (v. 12)
Peter listened to Cornelius’ story about the angel (vv. 13-14)
The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his house (v. 15)
Peter remembered the words of Jesus concerning this (v. 16)

Conclusion
Peter concludes he was not to stand in God’s way (v. 17)
Others glorified God because of God’s work (v. 18)

Application
Prayer, NOT thoughts (1Th 5:17)
Vision, NOT daydream (Jer 14:14)
Spirit leading, NOT personal desire (Rom 8:5)
Believing witnesses, NOT secular friends (Pro 11:14)
Listened to discern the work of God, NOT to speak (Jam 1:19)
Manifested by the Holy Spirit, NOT feelings (Gal 5:22-23)
Confirmed by Scripture, NOT opinion (2Pe 1:20-21)
Conclusion: confidence in God’s leading

Response
What is the state of your spiritual life?
Do others have to feed you, or do you feed yourself?
Which of these 7 actions do you regularly engage in?
Which of these 7 actions do you need to grow in?
How might God be leading you to follow Jesus?