Revival - Acts 10 // 20 September 2026

Wasn't that great?

So we had a wonderful dedication, great time of praise and worship to our Saviour and Lord, exciting news, and actually God's not done yet.

And uh I'm gonna preach this morning, and I have spent two weeks battling how simple this is.

Uh, but I'm just gonna deliver what God has given.

So we're looking, uh, as we have been over the last couple of weeks at revival.

And uh I'm gonna be looking at Acts chapter 10 today.

Acts 10 · chapter mention

It's quite a long chapter, so I'm not going to read it all, but if you want to open your Bibles, it's Acts chapter 10.

Acts 10 · chapter mention

And in this chapter, we see the spread of the good news of Jesus when it begins to touch those who aren't Jews, Gentiles.

I think as well, though, this chapter shows us that the transformation that happens in us is what brings freshness, renewal, change, and then it spills out to other people.

Because transformation always starts with change.

And uh I've noticed that very often in God's plan, change starts with me.

Not with me looking to you to change, but rather me allowing God to change me and transform me.

Over the years I've noticed this correlation, and when you research and look back at great moments of church revival and growth, there is a correlation between individuals, revival, renewing, change, dedication, boldness, prayer, and the revival that follows in towns and cities and countries.

If we want revival, it starts with us.

If we want to see Dover changed, it starts with us and spreads out.

Something else I've noticed is that actually somebody asked me a number of years ago, uh, when do you hear from God?

I said, whenever I bother to listen.

And there's some truth in that.

We hear from God when we bother to stop and listen and see what he is saying to us.

And sometimes it feels hard, sometimes it's easy, and often it's in different ways.

But I know that when I'm open to God, when I listen to his voice, when I'm faithful and obedient to what he wants me to do and how I respond, change starts in me, sorry, and then God begins to move.

So in Acts 10, what we see is the account of the Apostle Peter.

He does that, he hears from God.

Actually, he then has to accept something totally unexpected for him, but he obeys God's call and then he sees God move in an amazing way.

And what we see when we read that passage is that the spread of the good news of Jesus gathers even more pace.

It's like it steps up a gear and it expands from just being a message to the Jews or those who have converted to Judaism and becomes a message of salvation for everyone, for all of us.

And so Peter, that disciple, you remember he's the one that first recognized Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.

That same Peter who Jesus gave the keys of heaven to and said, Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

It's the same Peter who first spoke the gospel message before that large crowd on the day of Pentecost.

And what did he get to see?

That as he preached repentance and salvation, three thousand people were saved, and the Holy Spirit was poured out amongst them.

It's the same guy.

You know, he's got quite a good track record.

Uh he hadn't before that, but at this point he's had quite a good track record of following God, listening, being obedient, and what he did again was to preach another gospel message.

The same one, really, a message of repentance, talking about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

And what did he see?

Many saved, and the Holy Spirit coming on those listening.

But the only difference here to before was those he was talking to weren't Jews.

No.

It was a soldier, a Roman centurion, and his family and friends.

So it's almost like Acts 10 is this sort of tale of two men, Peter the Apostle and this man Cornelius.

Cornelius was living in Caesarea.

As I said, he was a Roman centurion in the Italian regiment.

But it's quite interesting because what we read about him was that he was a God-fearing man, that he was devout, and that he gave generously to those in need.

So he's not doing too badly.

He's actually trying to live quite a good life.

Eben says that he prayed to God as well.

And so one day, this soldier, we don't know whether he was in his uniform or not, I sort of like to think he was, but you know, we don't know that.

But one day this soldier had a visitation from an angel of God who told him to do something.

He said, You need to send some of your men to find Peter and bring him back here to your home.

And that's what he does.

So Peter, on the day that the men are almost arrived, men from Cornelius have almost arrived where he's staying with Simon the Tanner.

Peter has a vision.

And it was a bit strange.

Because he's up on the roof and he's waiting for lunch and he sees heaven open and this large sheet be let down to earth.

And as he sees this vision, he sees that the sheet contained all kinds of animals, including those that Jews were forbidden to eat.

And Peter hears the Lord say to him, Get up, Peter, kill and eat.

Well, at this point, Peter maybe was a little bit more like the old Peter, the one that, you know, denied Jesus, because he was actually totally incredulous.

This isn't right.

Jews can't eat animals considered unclean by all their laws.

And he says, Surely not, Lord, I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.

But the response was clear.

Why has God revealed that to me?

And the men arrive.

And the Holy Spirit told him to meet them and go with them, because he had sent them to him.

So that's what he does.

He speaks to the men, he already starts to do what shouldn't be acceptable.

He offers them hospitality, gets them to stay the night, and the next morning they set off for Cornelius' house.

Peter takes other believers with him and off they go back to Caesarea.

So what happens when they arrive?

Well, he didn't do what he could have done to try and keep in the Jewish law.

He didn't call them all out because he's not meant to go in and be with them.

No, he goes in to the house.

And he sees that it's not just Cornelius there, he's gathered his relatives and his friends to hear what Peter is going to tell them.

And Peter actually tells them, look, I'm not meant to be here really.

Jews shouldn't associate with non-Jews.

But God prepared me and told me, You shall not call any man impure or unclean.

Then Cornelius tells him about his vision and why he sent for him.

And then he says these great words.

Cornelius says, We are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.

Those of us who preach in the room, is there any better opening that means you're allowed to preach the gospel?

We're here, we're ready, we're listening.

You can tell us what God wants us to hear.

And really, what happens is remarkably similar to the day of Pentecost.

He preaches the gospel.

He says, This Jesus whom you crucified is Lord.

This Jesus, if you repent from your way of living, from your sin, will offer you salvation.

And he says, God is not going to show favoritism.

He's going to accept people from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

He says, this salvation, this eternal life, this goodness of God is not just for the Jews.

It's for you and you and you, every one of us here.

And he tells it to Cornelius.

And he says, Everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through Jesus' name.

And once again, same result.

As he's preaching, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and his friends and family members as the Holy Spirit was poured out on them.

And we see the responses, they spoke in tongues and they began praising God.

And then it's almost like them Peter thinks, Oh, have we done this the right way round?

So when I was 11, I was away at a church youth camp and I was filled with the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues.

And then I got back home, my dad was my pastor.

Excuse me, Dad, you say we can't be baptised by baptized or 14 in water.

But if God's filled me with the Spirit, how can you say no?

He looked at me and he's like, Oh, I said, No, Dad, if the Spirit's filled me, how can you say no?

I even told him about this chapter because I was very good at trying to wrap him around my little finger.

But this is what happens there, and it's like Peter suddenly thinks, Oh, they haven't even been baptized in water, and he gets says they can be baptized in water, and he stays with them for a few days.

It's really simple, isn't it?

So much of the Christian life and our faith is really simple.

But my favourite word, but it's not always easy.

What I've shared with you is quite simple.

And as I say, I've struggled with the simplicity of this for a couple of weeks.

But actually, the message of Jesus is simple, but it's not always easy for us to make the choices he's asking or to respond in the way that he wants us to.

So just a couple of things in this passage that might show us what's simple but not easy.

Salvation for non-Jews was a sovereign design and a sovereign instruction.

It wasn't plan B, it was God's plan.

And that means it's for you and for me, for our friends and our families.

It's that simple.

Jesus loves every one of you.

But it's not always easy to accept God's love.

This passage shows us that faith in Jesus always includes repentance from and confession of sins.

You know that basic message of turn from the way you've been going, turn to me.

Have you made that decision?

Simple step.

How easy is it for you to get that step over the line?

And say, you know what, Lord, I'm going to trust you for salvation.

How easy is for you to be obedience?

Peter obeyed.

Cornelius obeyed.

They did what God asked of them.

Do you find that easy?

Or do you find it slightly harder?

And what about those other things?

I have to now close my eyes and not look at people.

What about those other things?

If you haven't been baptized in water, what does Marcus say?

Well, why not?

Because that gift, once we've made the decision to follow Jesus, is for all.

So is the gift of the Holy Spirit, the filling of the Spirit, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit with you every day.

If you haven't received that, why not?

It's really simple to be baptized, and it's really simple simple to ask God for the outpouring of his spirit.

You just have to ask.

Maybe these things get a little progressively harder because it's really clear that we have to tell others the good news of Jesus.

That's how it spreads.

You know, someone tells me, I tell you, they tell someone else.

Uh, it's not just our job as leaders.

Faith grows, revival happens when the gospel message is proclaimed.

Maybe you find that hard to do, to tell people the good news of Jesus.

And then a tough one, really.

You see, I don't think Cornelius was saved.

He was trying really hard to do a good job.

He was trying to live a good life.

He was actually even praying.

But he hadn't turned from one way, accepted Christ, received Christ through his own repentance.

It wasn't enough to just try and live a good life.

Christ wants your all.

And Peter, he didn't expect this situation, but he obeyed.

He didn't limit God because of his own understanding.

I'm really grateful of that.

That's why we're here today, if we love Jesus, is because Peter said it's not just for the Jews.

And he saw growth happen, rapid growth, numerical growth, spiritual growth, and God move in miracles and in amazing ways.

Simply put, Jesus wants to move in and through your life.

Can I ask the worship team to come up?

Because I don't know what you feel like today.

Do you feel a bit like Peter?

And actually, you're sitting there thinking, I know God has told me to do something.

Isn't it great?

Anita said yes to what God told her to do.

But have you been obedient?

More as well.

Like, are you willing to expect the unexpected with what God asks you?

Do you want to see him move miraculously and amazingly?

Or maybe you're Cornelius.

You're sort of trying to live a good life.

You've even been coming along to church.

Actually, you've even prayed.

But have you responded with repentance and giving Christ your all?

And when I was preparing, I just thought God's say, actually, some people might not be feeling like Peter or Cornelius today, but they want to hear his voice.

And I just felt God say, tell them I'm here.

I'm ready to speak.

You might not think I am, but I am.

I want to speak to you today.

So, church revival starts with you and I.

We need to understand that.

We need to follow these steps that Cornelius and his family did.

Because the message is for each of us and for your families and friends.

So I accept that it's really simple, but it's not easy.

Maybe you really need the filling and the gift of the Holy Spirit today.

Maybe you've had that before, and you just need to be refreshed and renewed in that.

So I'm going to ask you to come for prayer in a minute.

Maybe you need to make that first choice to say, I surrender.

Jesus, you can have my all.

I am not where I'm meant to be with you, and I want to be.

I don't want to do it my way anymore.

I'm sorry, Lord.

And for some of us, it might just be what we've talked about for a few weeks is that you're going to join the worship team as they praise God.

Because it says in Acts 10 that their response was praising God.

And it's another word, Scott.

It's not either of the two you've bought us.

This word praising means I'm going to declare the greatness of God.

And we're going to sing in a minute about the goodness of God.

With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.

With my life laid down, I surrender now, I give you everything.

Will you?

Will you give God everything this morning?

Because this good news is for you.

And key is accepting salvation and being transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Be bold this morning.

I'm going to ask the prayer team to come up.

Be bold.

Come for prayer.

Come for salvation.

Come for filling of the Holy Spirit.

Come because you need to hear from God.

So if the prayer team will come, and if those of you that are used regularly in prophecy would come as well, because I think God wants to talk to people today.

Life altering change starts with me.

But I'm not in control then.

God is.

If I offer my life, He'll lead, He'll show me the way, He'll help me make the decisions, He'll fill me, He'll equip me, and the Holy Spirit will be there for me.

So I suppose it's really simple this morning.

Are you ready for change?

Because God wants to pour out his spirit on this place and this town.

Thanks, Lois.