This document discusses how God challenges us to think "upside down" through visions and the Holy Spirit. It provides examples from Acts of how Peter struggled to accept God's direction to preach to Gentiles, as this went against his Jewish traditions. Through the vision of animals and the Holy Spirit's prompting, Peter realized God had made Gentiles clean too and could receive salvation. Others initially criticized Peter but later praised God upon seeing Gentiles repenting and receiving eternal life. The document encourages resisting judging others and having a narrow focus, and instead following where the Holy Spirit leads to share God's transforming love.

1. Upside Down Thinkingwww.princeofpeace.org.au

3. “Remember, these instructions... When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ 27 And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’” Exodus 12:24-27, NLT

4. Turning Points = Upside Down Thinking

5. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” 14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” (Acts 10:11-14, NLT)

6. 15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. 17 Peter was very perplexed. (Acts 10:15-17, NLT)

7. 19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:19, NLT)

8. 44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

9. Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he gaveorders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:44-47, NLT)

10. 1/ they make us feel uncomfortable2/ they lead us to make a decision3/ they can place us on a collision path

11. 1 Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. 2 But when Peter arrived backin Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. 3 “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said. (Acts 11:1-3, NLT)

12. 18 When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentilesthe privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.” (Acts 11:18, NLT)

13. ConfessionFather forgive me for I resist you.I resist you when your Holy Spirit challenges my narrow focus. I resist you when I judge and condemn others because they don’t fit into my perspective of holy living.Lord God, as you make all things new, make things new in my heart too. Help my love for others prove to the world that I am your follower.

14. Welcome to Prince of PeaceOur Mission isto live and sharethe grace of Godso our communities experience His transforming love and peacewww.princeofpeace.org.au