27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 11 01-18 PETER'S EXPLANATION 04 Acts 11 05-07 Restedness of God
📖 Acts 11:01-18
04 – Mon30Sep2024 – *Restedness of God* - _Acts 11:01-18_ – PETER’S EXPLANATION – _Hebrews 04:01-13_
_Acts 11:5-7 "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. (6) When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. (7) And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'_
Peter is explaining this incident to the elders which took place and recorded for us in _Acts 10:9-18_. Luke has thought it necessary to record the same event twice in his letter to Theophilus. If this is recorded twice then this incident is pivotal from the perspective of God and for the church.
Peter was in the Joppa. Peter and John had gone to Samaria to strengthen the church that had been planted there by Philip. _Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,_.
From Samaria, Peter travelled to other places in that region encouraging the believers. _Acts 9:32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda._
At Lydda the healing of Aeneas took place and people in the region of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord. _Acts 9:35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Meanwhile, Tabitha fell sick and died in Joppa. The disciples in Joppa heard that Peter was in Lydda and they sent people to get Peter to come immediately to Joppa. _Acts 9:38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them._
Tabitha was raised from the dead and many in that region turned to the Lord. _Acts 9:42-43 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. (43) So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner._ This was how Peter was staying in the home of Simon the Tanner, when God gave him a vision and spoke to him through the vision.
As all of this was taking place with Peter, the Lord was working with Cornelius and he had an angelic visitation. The Lord instructed Cornelius to bring Peter from Joppa to Caesarea. _Acts 10:5-6 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. (6) He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do."_
Peter was in the city of Joppa, in the home of Simon the Tanner, praying. *What are we learning here?*
We are seeing the wonderful ways of God, and as His people, we must remain rested in His hands. This is the lesson that we find very difficult to learn. Our lives are lived so much under our own agenda and direction.
*Am I saying that we must live aimless, disorganised lives?*
No. I am speaking of our restedness in God, knowing that He is in control, and also orchestrating our lives for His purposes and glory. _Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it._
Many of us are falling short of the rest that God has intended for us. This is the Shalom or Sabbath rest of God, where we are rested in Him. We know and we are content that He is moving things, which are far beyond and ahead of us, for His purposes and glory. *We must be diligent to enter the Sabbath rest of God.*
_Hebrews 4:9-11 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. (10) For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (11) Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience._
What prevents us from entering the rest of God is our disobedience. Where is the Lord expecting obedience from us? Obedience needs to be in the realm of the thoughts and intents of our hearts. _Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and *is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.*_
At the level of our intent or motives, we must give God control of our lives. This is where our disobedience is taking place for at the level of our intent and motives, we are seeking our own end, not God’s purpose and glory. *Since we are seeking our end, we have not entered the rest that God has intended for us. We must always be seeking God’s end.*
We are not moving in the way Peter was moving in his life and ministry. Peter was in the exact place where the Lord wanted him to be, as the Lord was fulfilling His purpose of bringing in the fullness of the Gentiles.
```Peter was operating in the restedness of God.```