I’ll be coming from the book of Acts, chapter 10. I’ll be referring to several verses so if you want, you can open your Bibles to the book of Acts, chapter 10.

Are we ready to shift gears? On Sunday, Pastor kept talking about cars and manual shifting. I just started driving I have no clue about manual shifting. I am an automatic girl. I put the key in, turn it, and I’m good.

But those of you who understand what Pastor was talking about, in order for the car to accelerate, the owner has to personally shift the gear. He or she has to be so in tune, as Pastor said, with the mechanics of the car to be able to make the adjustment based on the sound of the car.

In chapter 10, we find the Apostle Peter having to shift from a mindset about the Gentiles being unclean. As a Jew, he had been taught from childhood that he was never to touch or eat anything unclean.

And here God was asking Peter to go against all traditions, all beliefs. But God was about to do a new thing—a new shift in the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”  But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” Acts: 10:13-15 (NKJV)

And in that vision, God spoke to him three times, and the object was taken up into heaven again.

God was preparing Peter, because later he would find that God had summoned him. Cornelius had received instructions from God, and men were coming to Peter. And Peter was going to go to Cornelius’ home.

And that’s what I want to emphasize—obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts chapter 10, verse 34, Peter opened his mouth and said, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” God had shifted something in Peter that went against everything he believed.

Pastor Kevin mentioned during consecration—obedience over preference. We may prefer to stay comfortable, to stay in what we know, but God is asking us to be obedient to His prompting, to where He moves.

Because Peter was obedient, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was able to reach the Gentiles. They were now able to become part of the family of God. The Great Commission that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 28 was being fulfilled.

And because Peter was obedient, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was able to reach the Gentiles, who were now able to become a part of the family of God. And the Great Commission that Jesus had spoken about in Matthew chapter 28 was being fulfilled.

You know it by heart, but I would rather read it from the Scripture.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19–20

So Peter had to shift from his prejudiced mindset so that God could show that the Gospel of Jesus Christ could be expanded.

And we may have prejudices in our lives — maybe language, maybe culture, maybe different things.

We live in a city where, honestly, it feels like at least ninety percent of the world’s population is represented. You have Little Italy, Little Jamaica, Little this, Little that. You go to Astoria, you have Greeks. You go to other neighborhoods, and there are pockets of every nation represented in our city.

And maybe the Lord is calling you to minister to someone you’re uncomfortable with. And maybe you’re saying, “No, I’m not ministering. I’m not witnessing.” But God is asking you to shift — to do a new thing.

Haven’t we been talking about this? “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth — do you not perceive it?” God is doing a new thing.

Pastor has been asking us to shift gears to where God wants to take us.

And Peter, being shifted and obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, obeyed. One of the things that stood out to me was that it took the Lord three times for Peter’s mindset to be shaped.

And I thought about the three times Peter denied Jesus. And I thought — are we arguing with God? Is God telling you to do something, and you’re saying, “No, Lord… not that”? God comes again. And again. And again. Are we still arguing?

We may have all kinds of reasoning, but God is sovereign. He knows He has equipped you. You have the tools.

When I think about Peter, we often remember that he was quick to speak. He was the one who cut off the soldier’s ear in the garden. But after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter was restored. God used Peter mightily.

He preached, and the church expanded. Thousands were saved. And even though Paul would later minister primarily to the Gentiles, it started with Peter. God used Peter to open the door.

Peter later wrote in 1 Peter chapter 2:

“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

Even though Peter still struggled with prejudice, Paul later had to call him out in Galatians chapter 2. But God still used him.

And maybe you’re struggling with something — but God still wants to use you. God still wants you to shift.

Are you and I ready to shift when prompted by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who guides us into all truth?

When the Holy Spirit prompted Peter, he moved. He said, “I came without objection.” And sometimes the Lord will put someone on your heart — pray for them. You don’t know what God may be intercepting because of your obedience. God may wake you up to pray, and later you find out something was about to happen — but God intervened.

Because of Peter’s obedience, Cornelius and his entire household received the Word. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard.

The Gentiles received the same Holy Spirit. The barrier was removed. The Kingdom of God expanded.

And today, God is asking us to shift, because lives are waiting on our obedience.

Because of Peter’s obedience, Cornelius was waiting. Not only Cornelius, but his family and friends. And while Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word. The same Holy Spirit that lived in the Jews now lived in the Gentiles. The barrier was removed. The Gospel expanded.

And God is asking us today to shift, because there are lives depending on our obedience. There are people waiting on us to move out of our comfort zones.

Are you ready to shift when God speaks — in His Word, through visions, through people, through circumstances? God is speaking.

He wants us to walk in newness, in divine alignment, but we must be sensitive and obedient.

My prayer is this: God, I don’t want to miss You. I don’t want to miss what You have for me in 2026.

Are you ready to shift? Because shifting will cost you comfort, preferences, and resistance. But because we love God, and we know He loves us, we will obey.

Father God, we thank You this morning. We thank You that we are Your sons and daughters. You said Your sheep know Your voice and they will not follow another.

We pray that we would be sensitive to the Spirit of the living God. When You move, we move. When You stay, we stay.

We desire to be aligned with Your Spirit, obedient to Your prompting, and ready to shift when You call us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.