May 7, 2023 - Banding Together

Introduction:

Music, I know many of you like music. Some more than others. Some like one genera and others like a different genre. But what makes a band a band? The group of them makes the band. There are several definitions to the word band.

Band: surround with something in the form of a strip or ring, typically for reinforcement or decoration.

Link:

Like a band that reinforces something, like the band around an old wood barrel for reinforcement. In a band, you have many instruments reinforcing each other, making it stronger and more beautiful. The word band is used to describe a group of people who are united or tied together by a common purpose or goal.

Today were not talking about a band of musicians, but rather a band or a cohort, a regiment of soldiers.

Fear:

Acts 10 (NKJV)

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

Cornelius was an Italian gentile in the Roman army. He was like a modern day Sargent. He was part of a 600 man regiment, where he was over 100 of them, hence the name Centurion which is from the same word that we get century.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible JFB (Chapter 10)

a cohort of Italians, as distinguished from native soldiers, quartered at Caesarea, probably as a bodyguard to the Roman procurator who resided there. An ancient coin makes express mention of such a cohort in Syria.

2 (Cornelius) a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

3 About the ninth hour (3pm our time) of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

The phrase, “What is it Lord?” was language that was used in a childlike reverence and humility.

Althought Cornelius wasn’t saved, although he was seeking God, God was glad that one was seeking Him. Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Cornelius was seeking God and he was about to find Him.

We see that God answered Cornelius seeking. When we seek God, he to will answer.

Unsaved: You have sin, you need Him. Seek his forgiveness and He will forgive you. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”

Saved: If you seek God, if you draw close to Him, be patient, keep growing closer to Him in you relationship, He will reveal Himself to you at just the right time. But be patient and listen, because when He does speak to you, be expecting it and hearken to His call, His invitation immediately.

5 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.”

7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.

8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

What would have happened if Cornelius would have said, ok, i’ll send them tomorrow or perhaps next week?

God was working then and when He works, He expects us to be there and be fully committed in His time, not ours. What Cornelius did here was expressed his sincere FEAR OF GOD. That is why in Vs. 2, it called Him a devout man who FEARED God.

He was willing to lay aside his ideas, hopes and dreams for Gods at a moments notice, when God encountered Him. Cornelius, FEARED GOD.

Christian, do you fear God like Cornelius did? When God is inviting you to do something, are you listening and not double guessing God?

9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

The men headed out to Joppa where Peter was.

The 6th hour would be our noon. Peter loved God and was dedicated to praying 3 times a day.

10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

Being it was noon, Peter, like you, got hungry, he was ready to go have a bite to eat. But God stopped Him, to encounter Him.

When God encounters you, do you tell Him, I’m ready, I’ll stop what I am doing? Or do you go about your business and think, I’ll get to God later?

In my life, I’ve been guilty of telling God, ok, but later God. When God invites you to do something with Him, He wants you to do it now. Perhaps you are like me. You are tired and you lay down to go to sleep at night and a gentle reminder from God comes across you. Hey, your about to go to sleep and you din’t meet with me today. I’d like to talk with you a bit.

Peter had ignored Gods invitations in the past but this time, He was all in.

11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.

12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary Commentary

The vision was a sign from heaven that Jews were no longer to call Gentiles unclean.

After all, now that Jesus fulfilled the law, the wall was broken down. Now the Jews could go into the home of a Gentile. Jesus blood was shed and changed the world!

Peter did end up trusting God in what God told him. He made himself available to God. God used Peter here as will see next week to take the Gospel to the Gentiles yet some more.

Christian: If God is encountering you, if he is inviting you to do something for Him, or just to get faithfully into your Bible and Prayer, LISTEN AND DO IT. Don’t miss an opportunity to spend time with God.

Unsaved: ABC. God wants to spend time with you but you first must have a relationship with Him. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”

Closing Song: I Belong To Jesus

17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.

20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren (6 of them, see Acts 11:12) from Joppa accompanied him.

Acts 11:12 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.”

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary Commentary

Peter doubled the number of witnesses required by law (Deut. 19:15 One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.”) in case he was called into question for entering a Gentile house.

24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.

28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—

37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.

40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Challenge: Do You Love Me?

Saved:

Unsaved: Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Closing Song: My Jesus I Love Thee