Wall Breaker ⎸ Pastor Jordan D. Waage ⎸ ACTS Series

FA Admin: Welcome to the Faith Live Sermon Podcast. This is a replay of a past sermon from Faith Live Church. Whether you missed it, want to hear it again, or share it with someone you know, we're glad you're here. This sermon is by Jordan Waggy, lead pastor at Faith Live Church. Well, it is so good to see everybody. We've been out for the past couple of weeks. We have been on vacation, praise God. We have been down in Branson, Missouri for a week. What? And ⁓ anybody here been to Branson, Missouri? Just a couple of you, Jotty. Yes, you were there. You were with me. Yep, I saw you. ⁓ praise God. If you haven't been there, you gotta go. It's like I I like to call it a wholesome Vegas. It's got ⁓ it's got like a strip, it's got a great ⁓ it's got shows and all that, and ⁓ amusement parks, so on and so forth, impersonators, all that good stuff, minus all the nasty stuff you get from Vegas. So ⁓ you gotta go. It's a fantastic thing, and we had a great time. We feel refreshed. We feel renewed and we are ready to preach. So we're ready to go here today. ⁓ for ⁓ for those that are new in the place, thank you so much for being a part of all that God is doing at Faith Alive Church. ⁓ my name is Pastor Jordan, if I haven't introduced myself to you before. And ⁓ we are so thankful that you are here both in person and online. Thank you for joining us all over the country, all over the globe, ⁓ which is really, really cool. And ⁓ we're excited to see what God is doing. And if you have been with us for the past watch this 10 weeks, we have been studying the book of Acts. And ⁓ God has been speaking, amen. And the Holy Spirit has been moving, and we are so thankful ⁓ for that. And ⁓ we've learned and we've watched both in scripture and in person, ⁓ the Holy Spirit operate. And ⁓ we are so thankful for that. And we know that he will continue to move ⁓ in this place here today. But we have learned all about him, right? And ⁓ we saw him come at Pentecost, which was the birth of the church in Acts chapter two, which is a beautiful, amazing, and awesome thing. We saw him transform lives, and he's continuing to transform lives. ⁓ we've also seen him give boldness and ⁓ a power and and authority over different oppositions in our lives and we are thankful that he hasn't stopped yet. And ⁓ we've learned so much about so many different things, but in Acts chapter 10, which is what we're going to be studying here today. If you want to get ahead of me, you can turn with me to Acts chapter 10. In Acts chapter 10, ⁓ we deal with a different ⁓ kind of obstacle. ⁓ you know, it's not persecution, it's not ⁓ governmental opposition, it's not ⁓ lack of resource. This is interesting, but it's something that I believe that churches don't cover enough, and that is prejudice. Prejudice. The obstacle of prejudice is the belief that some people Are worthy of God's love, his mercy, and his grace, while others are not. Can I tell you in this place that I rebuke that thought process? Because God is faithful and good and came to this earth tonight to die, not just for some people, but for all people. You know, you might be thinking in this place, you know, I don't have a prejudice. Against certain people. I don't have a prejudice against certain groups. I don't have a prejudice in that way. But you might be thinking I have a prejudice against my own self. You might be thinking that you are unworthy of God's grace. You might think you are unworthy of God's mercy. And again, I rebuke that thought process, but I understand that it's something that some of us deal with. You think, how could an all-loving, all-powerful, and omnipresent God know about what I have done in my past and love me regardless? Can I tell you that in Acts chapter 10, it really challenges that idea and it shows us that the gospel is so much bigger than that? And that God is so much bigger than that. He is bigger than our iniquities. He is bigger than our assumptions. He is bigger than our bias. He is bigger than our self-deprecation. He is bigger than our prejudice. Somebody say amen. Amen. Before we jump into this, would you bow your heads and pray with me? Father, we thank you for this wonderful day that you have given us. Holy Spirit of God, would you fall upon this message? Would it be your words, not my own? Lord God, that it would go forward and transform lives as you have done before. Lord, would you open hearts and minds to receive, maybe for the first time? We love you, Jesus. It's in your name that we pray. Amen. Amen. Acts chapter 10. Acts chapter 10. If you don't have your script, if you don't have your Bible with you, ⁓ it'll be on the screen. And I mean this when I say it. If you do not have a Bible, let us know. Let one of the leaders or the info desk in the back know. We will get you one. All right. Turn with me to Acts chapter 10. In Acts chapter 10, we meet a man named Cornelius. Everybody say Cornelius. Do we have anybody named Cornelius in the house? All right, just thought I'd ask because I thought that would be pretty cool. I asked the other services too. Cornelius was a Roman official, a Roman centurion, meaning that he was an officer within the Roman Empire that was in charge of 100 soldiers. That's where we get that name centurion. Century is the root word there. 100. Cornelius was a little bit different than his counterparts, his co workers, though. What do we know about Cornelius? Cornelius was a generous. Man with his finances and with his time. But more importantly than that, Cornelius and his family were God-fearing people. God-fearing people. And at verse 4, Cornelius has a vision. And in this vision, an angel of the Lord comes and visits him and says this within the vision: Cornelius, your prayers and gifts. To the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. What is the angel saying in this moment? Good job. Way to go. Then in verse five, the angel commissions Cornelius. He says, Send men to Joppa, everyone say Joppa. Very good. To bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. So what we see here? We see the angel come and greet Cornelius in a vision, commend him for what he is doing, and then commission him to go and find a man named Peter. After the angel had spoken to Cornelius, he departed. And I love what Cornelius does in this moment. And I think that we can all glean some ⁓ encouragement. From this in this moment, Cornelius does not sit and ponder what God has said to him in the vision. No, what does Cornelius do? He goes and grabs his servants, his assistant, and sends them to Joppa to get Peter immediately. See, I think that some of us get into trouble with this, where we see a vision, we might have a dream, we might know that God is speaking to us and sharing something, and it's an Action. He wants us to move. And what do we so often do? Well, I don't think that that's such a good idea, God. I don't really think I want to do that, Lord. But that's not what Cornelius does. Immediately he calls upon his servants and attendants and sends them to Joppa to get Peter. You know what I love about Cornelius is that he is one of the most unlikely people. An unlikely candidate for God to move in his life. Right? He's a Roman centurion. You don't get further away from the Jews than being a Roman centurion. He's a Gentile. He's a non Jewish person. And as you know, if you read your Bible, there is conflict there. He's also an officer in the occupying army, which means that he has a responsibility to that area, that part of Judah. Where he has to enforce the laws. So if a Jew steps out of line, he must step in. He's in an interesting spot, yes? So he's an unlikely candidate for God to move. Yet scripture tells us something remarkable. It says this in Acts chapter 10 and verse 2 is that he and his family were devout and God fearing. He gave generously to those in need and Prayed to God how many times? Regularly. He did it regularly. This is what I love about our God. Watch this. Cornelius at this time was not a believer. He knew God. He had a God fearing attitude. His family followed him, but he didn't have a relationship with Jesus. But he was, watch this word, seeking. And because he was seeking, God was working. See, the Holy Spirit doesn't only work in those who call upon him, he can work in those that are searching. And we need to learn from Cornelius in this moment that it is a heart posture and an intention that To go after the Holy Spirit of God, if you want to have your life pan out, if you want to see God work in your life, you need to seek Him for who He is. See, we sometimes think that it's us that bring God to people when in actuality, in reality, it's God who draws people to Himself. See, you didn't ever save anybody. You didn't save anybody. No, God used you in the same way He used Mike Spala here today to share a word. He used you as a vessel for his glory, so that he is recognized, so that he is glorified, so that he is exalted. He might use you as a messenger, but it's God who is speaking. He might use you as a laborer, but it's him who gets it done. He might use you, watch this. To see this community, West Branch community, give their lives to Jesus, but it is Him who gets the glory, not you. It's Him who gets the glory. Let Cornelius be a perfect example that it's about the heart posture and the intention, the submission, the honesty, the generosity that encourages the Holy Spirit of God to work and act in your life. Let him be an example to you. And there's so much more. We don't have time to go through this, comb through this all. Read it for yourself. Understand what God did through Cornelius. It's important. Now I want you to look at verse 10, Acts chapter 10, and verse 10. Peter, just like Cornelius, has a vision. Peter sees heaven open up and something like large sheets. Being let down to earth by its four corners. Within that sheet, he sees animals, he sees mammals, he sees reptiles, he sees birds. Then Peter hears God say this Get up, Peter, kill and eat. You know, Peter is such an interesting character within Scripture, is he not? What I love about Peter is that he's you. He's me, right? Where we have these high highs. We are going after God. We are loving God. Nobody can slow us down. And then somebody challenges us. And what do we do? Well, I don't know the man. Am I hitting home to some of us in this place? I've been there. And then he'll come back and he's hot and he's on fire and he's passionate, he's loving Jesus again. You are everything to me. Then he shows him a vision. He goes, Get up, p Peter, kill and eat. And Peter, what does he do? He doesn't do what Cornelius did, which is run and get his men to go to Joppa. No, what does he do? He refuses. Peter, Peter, you know, you just want to smack him sometimes. Peter, wake up, dude. Like we're past this now, right? But he refuses. And what does he say? He says, I have never eaten anything impure or unclean. Now I want you to see something. This changes everything. This literally changes what is happening what happens next, changes everything within church history. In the very next verse, God responds with this: He says, Do not call. Anything impure that I have made clean. Can you read that with me just one more time? I want that to get into our spirits. Let's say it together. Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. ⁓ has he wiped you clean? Has he made you clean? Has he forgiven you of the stains of sin in your life? Faith Alive family, I want you to know that this piece of scripture, this portion of scripture is not about what you can and cannot eat. It's not about that. See, for generations, Jews and Gentiles. So we see Peter and Cornelius, the perfect example of this. They had lived separated lives by religious, by religion, by culture, by social barriers. And Peter had spent his entire life. Viewing Gentiles as less than. He had viewed them as outsiders, but now the Holy Spirit of God is dismantling the prejudice and tearing down the walls that Peter had built. Listen, the Holy Spirit of God, in the same way he tore the walls down for Peter, wants to tear down the walls in your life. If there are barriers between you and another person, if there are barriers between you and yourself, I want to encourage you today to allow the Holy Spirit of God to dwell within you and give you a fresh perspective and a fresh enlightenment. You know why? Because we are all in the same boat. We're all the same. See, we were once sinners in Infested with sin, unclean in the eyes of God. But because of his Son Jesus, we are made clean. We are washed by the blood of the Lamb. See yourself in that light. See yourself that you are worthy of his love. He came for you. He didn't just come for a selected people, he came for you. He came for us all. So let's fast forward a little bit. Cornelius' servants, they go to Joppa, they find Peter, they bring him back to Cornelius's home. And one of the first things out of Peter's mouth, this cracks me up. The first thing out of Peter's mouth is you all are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate and visit a Gentile. Peter, dude, chill out, right? He's seen Jesus do anyway. But what is Peter really saying here, right? If you read between the lines, Peter is essentially saying, I don't care to be here. I don't like it here. This isn't what I believe. But then what does he follow it up with? Here's the redemption story of Peter, which we so often see. He says, But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. Can I tell you in this place that you might not like where God is calling you? You might not agree or align with what God is calling you to align, where to align, but that doesn't give you permission to just do whatever you want to do. God gives us guidelines. And the Holy Spirit took Peter, watch this, from resistance to obedience. And he wants to do the same for you. He wants to take you into obedience. And the Holy Spirit, hear me in this, will oftentimes lead us beyond our comfort zones. Very rarely, I don't know if you guys have experienced this before, but very rarely will the Lord lead you to a place where you go, this is better than I ever thought. He will lead you to a place that stretches you, that challenges you, that tests your faith. Why does he do that? Because with every testing, with every ⁓ trial, there is growth, there is clarity, and there's alignment with what the Holy Spirit wants to share in you. See, he might challenge your assumptions, he might challenge your thought process. He might challenge your assumptions about your family, about your children, about your spouse, about your coworkers, about yourself. He might challenge that assumption, and it's all because you were made for more. You were made for more. And we see proof of this in verses 34 and 35. Watch this. Peter says, I now realize. How true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. What is this? This is revelation in Peter's life. Revelation in Peter's life. Peter finally understands that God's grace and his mercy is not limited to one people group. It's not limited to the Jews. It's not limited to Whoever it is for all ethnicities, all nationalities, all social statuses, all family history, all backgrounds, and watch this, all those with past mistakes. See, some of us cannot accept the fact that this all loving God cares about us that much to forgive us of the sin that we've been a part of, the sin that we've Done, the slip-ups, the mess ups, the screw-ups. Watch this. This is a vivid example of what happens when you refuse to let God forgive what he's already forgiven. You put him back on that cross. See, he's already done it for you. He's already done it for you. I say this oftentimes, he had your name written on his heart and on his lips. When he breathed his last breath, he loves you that much. Some of us need to be reminded of that. We need to be reminded that Jesus loves you with all that he is, with his whole being. Pastor, you don't know what I've done. You don't know what I've been. Stop. In the name of Jesus, stop. Jesus wasn't sent. To be the perfect sacrifice for just some people. No, he was sent for all people. And that means you included. That means me included. That means your neighbor down the street. That means your community people. That means your loved ones that are in another state. For all of us. Listen to me. Write this down. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. The ground is left. There's no hierarchy with us. There's no tiered system. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. We all need redemption. We all need forgiveness. We all need Jesus. I don't care who you are. We all need Jesus. It's after Peter's revelation that scripture says while Peter was still speaking, he was sharing a message with the people. It says the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers, meaning those that had a covenant with God, had come with Peter, they were what? Astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. Why were they astonished? See, the covenant Christians in this time thought that the gift of the Holy Spirit was all for them. It was all for them. It only belonged to them. And they thought that God's promise, his favor, his blessing was limited to the Jews. See, but God was showing them something powerful. And that was that the same spirit that fell at Pentecost, the same spirit that fell upon the Jews, is the same spirit that fell upon the Gentiles. It's the same grace. It's the same salvation. It's the same power. And listen to me, Faith Alive Church, the same spirit that fell upon the Jews and the Gentiles 2,000 years ago is the same spirit that is here with us today. He's leading us, he's guiding us. I want you to realize that the same spirit is moving in his church, he's moving in his people. Don't get it twisted. This Holy Spirit that we talk about is not some imaginary friend. See, some churches get into trouble with this. They speak on the Son, they speak on the Father, but they forget that the Holy Spirit of God is a part of the Holy Trinity. The Godhead three in one. And what you may not realize is that the Holy Spirit of God is responsible for so much more than you might think. Listen to this. This is exhausted. Pray for my voice. You ready? He empowers, he transforms, he teaches, he convicts, he comforts, he equips, he reveals, he restrains, he sanctifies, he commissions. The Spirit of God brings spiritual life. Hang on, he helps us know God personally. He helps us understand scripture and truth. He makes it come alive in our lives. He convicts us. He transforms our character. He sanctifies us. That means that he purifies us. He washes us. He helps us conform to Christ. He helps us put sin to death. He renews our minds. He transforms our desires. He empowers us to live the Christian life. If you are in this place and you are struggling to walk this life out, let me tell you to dwell with the Holy Spirit of God and He will give it to you. Hang on. He gives us spiritual power and he equips us with spiritual gifts. Hear me in this church, it is not by might nor by power, but by the spirit, saith the Lord. This sermon series that we talked about was not to give you a history lesson. The same spirit that empowered the church two thousand years ago is the same spirit that is empowering us today. The same spirit who broke down the walls in Peter's life. These prejudicial thoughts and mindsets are breaking down walls in our lives as well. It's the same spirit. Will you lean into him? Will you know how important he is? Will you call upon him even at this time? Man, I can't think of a better way to close out this sermon series than to spend it at the altar at church. So can I invite you to come forward to this altar? Everybody stand on their feet at this time. I'm gonna invite you to come forward. I'm gonna invite you to come forward to these altars. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. for it is by my spirit, says the Lord. As a band begins to play, I just want you to quietly. No, I don't like that word. Just pray. Pray. Would you pray if you're at this altar, if you're in your seats wherever? Why we spend time at the altar? It's not that God can't speak to you in your seat or at your home or in your car. But there's just something about submitting yourself at the altar of God. There's just something about it. It's a posturing. It's saying, Lord, it's why we lift our hands. It's Lord, I surrender to you. I thank you for all that you're doing. So can we go to the Lord in prayer? Pastors, directors, elders, would you come behind these and pray for those? We're gonna pray for revelation, we're gonna pray for clarity. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for being the gateway unto the power and authority that the Holy Spirit offers. If you're in this house and you do not have a relationship with Jesus, that's step one. We need to know Jesus. Maybe you knew him at one point, and maybe you feel distant from him. I'm gonna give you an opportunity here to get right with him. The Bible talks about being righteous in the eyes of the Lord. For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, the Bible says you will be. Saved. So all over in this place with every head bowed, every eye closed, I just want you to repeat this prayer after me. And I don't want you to just say the words. Say it with intention. Say it from your heart. Say it with everything you have. So repeat these these things after me. Say, Dir Jesus. I love you. I believe that you came to this earth and you died for me. But I believe that you rose again three days later, and that you are here with me today. I ask that you would forgive me of my sin, that you would wash me clean, that you would make me white as snow. I promise. That I will follow you for the rest of my days. You are my savior. And I love you. And it's in your name, the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. Amen. Praise God. Thanks for listening to the Faith Live Sermon podcast. We hope this message encouraged you. If it did, be sure to subscribe or share it with someone else who may need it. If you want to get connected or reach out to one of our pastors, go to our website at faithalive.church. We'll see you next time.

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