Acts 10
Notes
Transcript
Cornelius Salvation
Cornelius Salvation
Good morning my friends!
I hope you’ve had a great week, a week that was filled with many blessings.
Let me ask you a question: Do you know what the difference is between a bad week and a good week?
Its our attitude, because our attitude shapes our perspective and outlook on the day.
So, How is your attitude day to day? Let Jesus master the mind and your attitude, and your perspective will be different.
In our text today, Peter faces a new perspective on the way he lives and the people God places around him.
What he believed and thought would be challenged and God will guide him to see what He was doing in the world.
I believe God is still doing this in our lives today, I believe he is challenging us about what we believe about the world around us.
Now understand, what God is doing in and through us never violates his word, it is not something new or mysterious.
Peter’s way of thinking is about to be change. So lets see what God is doing....
So here is our first thought for today..
1. Cornelius Vision...
Did you know that God reveals himself to those who do not know Him ( the lost )? Yes! He Does! Have you thought about that....
God reveals Himself through His Holy Spirit, and He does so to work among His people, but also to reveal the need of a Savior to the lost.
Lets look at our text....
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
When You look at this first portion, there are few points you need to see...
1. Cornelius is a Godly man....
So look at this, here is a man, in Caesarea, a city that lies on coast of the Mediterranean sea, and His name is Cornelius.
Now Caesarea is a provincial capital and as such would have a Roman governor living there in charge of the larger area around Caesarea. Because of this, Caesarea is seen as a mainly Hellenistic city, since the majority of the population is Greek speaking people, gentiles and not many Jewish people.
And Cornelius is living there, what do we know about him?
Besides living in Caesarea, we also know he is a Romans soldier, a centurion in the Italian regiment or cohort. Now being a Centurion tells us that he was in charge or in command of a 100 soldiers.
And verse 2 tells us 4 things about this man Cornelius.
He was a devout man who feared God. These two thoughts tell us that he worshipped God, the God the Jews worshipped, and being devout would indicated he was ethical, observing the laws. He attended the synagogue, and a God fearer, was allowed to come and worship even though he was not Jewish. And being Roman he probably hadn’t converted to Judaism.. but he still worshipped the Lord God of Israel.
But not just him, his whole household worshipped God as well. He did just as a male leader of their household should do. He lead his family and servants well.
He prayed continually and under the Jewish law, a person was to pray 3 times a day. Remember Daniel, he opened his windows toward Jerusalem 3 times a day.
And finally, he gave alms to the poor, acts of charity to those in need around him.
All of these actions speak to a person who is pious in nature, loves God and is doing His best to live in front of Him.
And in the course of this man’s life, a life that is well lived in front of God. God sends His messenger to him..
2. God sends His Messenger to Cornelius...
Now the Bible tells us that one afternoon, about 3pm, the 9th hour of the day and angel of the Lord appears to him. This time of day is important, it was the time of the evening prayers there at the temple.
So godly people, Jews would have been praying during this time all over the world. And it was the same for Cornelius. And during His time of prayer; an angel appears to him...
And listen to the Angels words... verse 4 “...Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God...”
Now don’t think this saved Cornelius, no. Being obedient to God doesn’t produce salvation. Instead God is giving to him the opportunity to have “more light” or more of a witness..
The way that Cornelius lives and acted pleased God, the Scripture says it had risen up before God as a memorial.
So we know that Cornelius has drawn close to God, loves God and has been as obedient as He knew how too with the witness he had in his life, the Jewish community and Word of God
But now the Lord is extending more help to Him. And listen to the angel’s message for Cornelius… verses 5-6 Acts 10:5-6
5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Now Joppa lay just to the south of Caesarea, and the Angel tells him to send men to Joppa, to the home of Simon the tanner which was by the sea and find Simon who is Peter who is there.
You know what Cornelius does? He is obedient, look at verses 7-8 Acts 10:7-8
7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Cornelius calls two servants and one devout soldier. So three people who were always waiting on him, like orderlies , they were tried and true servants, trustworthy. He sends them to Joppa to find Peter....
What a blessing my friends, Cornelius has lived his best life in front of God, and God is honoring Him and drawing closer to Him.
Isn’t that the desire of every person, we want to be obedient to God and we long to draw close to him every day. We want to know Him more and more...
I do, don’t you?
Now lets move on my friends....
2. Revelation Given to Peter...
One of the most wonderful thoughts I can share with you this morning is this truth; While God was at work in Caesarea, He was also at work in Joppa.
God is always at work, He is working in your today and your future. what He is calling you to do is to be obedient in where he is leading you.
God was telling Cornelius what he needed to do and God was already at work to prepare Peter for a visit by strangers.
Lets look at our text....Acts 10:9-16
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
So remember, Cornelius has sent three ment to Joppa, two servants and a godly solider under this leadership.
The Scriptures tell us it's the next day…, literally it is about noon. And there is Peter, he is at the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.
Now the Bible tells us that Peter is hungry, its lunch time and He has gone to the roof top to pray privately while lunch is being prepared...
Remember the prescribed times of prayer for Jewish men, They prayed 3 times a day, morning, midday and evening…
Now while Peter was praying (remember he is hungry, waiting for lunch), he falls into a trance, and there he sees a vision..
And in this vision he sees a great sheet being let down from heaven by all four corners and it held representatives of every type of animal known to man.
And knowing his hunger, the Lord tells him, Peter, rise, kill and eat…
Peter, I’ve prepared a meal for you, pick what you want and eat...
Now I can assure you, Peter is probably a little confused, there was clean and unclean there and the Lord. Having it all together made it all unclean.
And being unclean, it violated all the dietary restrictions that the Lord had given his people in His commandments. You can find this in the book of Leviticus..
So Peter objects… “....By no means Lord, I have never eaten anything unclean or common…” I could just see him, Lord.. do you see that pig on the blanket…
But Peter is serious here, he did not want to violate God’s law, even though He is an Apostle of Christ, he felt obligated to the law...
Its not legalism, he wanted to live right in front of God...
But God tells him something different.. look again at verses 15-16 Acts 10:15-16
15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
So what was happening? God is drawing a line in the sand. He has not completely revealed everything to Peter just yet but the first teaching point is clear… Everything is clean from the cow to the hog and everything in between.
God did this three times to ensure Peter understood, what God declares clean, he cannot object too....
Here is the opportunity for a great question my friends, has God ever repeatedly taught you something to make sure you understood?
Now this brings us to the last thought, are you ready
3. Salvation comes to All...
Now on this faithful day, what God has been at work orchestrating is coming to fruition.
The three men from Cornelius’ house at in Joppa and approaching the home of Simon the tanner.
And as they are at the door, God speaks again to Peter. Lets look at our text...
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
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So remember what Peter saw in the vision and God’s message to him… “…What God has made clean, do not call common or literally unclean....”
And as he is thinking on this message, Cornelius men have arrived and as they inquire if Peter is there, the Holy Spirit speaks to Peter again... Men are at the gate looking for you, I sent them.. go with them without hesitation.”
And Peter was obedient, he went down to the gate and told the men I am the one you are looking for, why have you come?
Their answer is remarkable, Cornelius, a centurion, upright and God fearing man who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation....
Now stop right there… they wanted Peter to know that not only was he a good, godly man, but a professional solider and gentile… But this man, was led by an angel of the Lord to come and find Peter and invite him back to his house so that he might hear Peter’s message...
Wow… God has been at work… Peter invites them in and the next day they make their way to Joppa .
When Peter and some brothers from Joppa arrive with Cornelius men in Caesarea, and they enter their master’s home.
Now in anticipation of their arrival, Cornelius has gathered his friends and relatives at his home. You see, he knows something wonderful is about to happen and he didn’t want anyone to miss it.
Stop there for a second, did you come today expecting God to do something wonderful in your midst.
Did you come expecting the Lord our God to enter and visit our heart and make a change… ?
We should...
Cornelius was anticipating something wonderful.
And as Peter enters, Cornelius falls down in front of him, worshipped him. But Peter stopped him, He said I am just a man like you...
Peter wasn’t to be worshipped, but the message he would bring him would lead him to the one worthy of worship Jesus.
Listen church to what Peter says next.... Acts 10:28-29
28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
Remember Peter is a Jew, , and it is unlawful for Jews to enter the homes of Gentiles or even associate with them.. But Peter now understands God’s vision in great detail..
Peter says "…God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean...”
You see God prepared Peter’s heart with the illustration of food. No longer would there be clean or unclean food or people.
God wanted everyone to hear the message of His son that they might be made well and whole. That they could find entrance into the Kingdom of God...
Listen my friends as Christians we at times fell like we cannot associate with the world, but my friends the harvest fields of God are in the world.
We are in this world, but we are not of the world. God has called us to be different so that the world can see and hear about Jesus in our word and deed.
People will have no hope of hearing about Jesus unless someone loves them enough to be their friend, love them and tell them about Jesus...
Amen...
Peter asks Cornelius, I’m here… so why have you sent for me?
Cornelius recounted to Peter how the Angel of the Lord came to him saying “..Cornelius your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.” And now the Angel told them to ask Peter to come to your house.
And listen to second part of verse 33… Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Wow.... Upon hear this Peter says this in verse 34 Acts 10:34
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
And if you look at verses 35-43 we see that Peter shared with them everything about Jesus...
Friends there is no greater message than that of Jesus, his death, his burial and glory to God His resurrection.
The world today needs to hear the message of Jesus...
Now just one last passage verses 44-48 Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
These dear people, Cornelius, his family and friends were saved upon hearing and responding to the message of Jesus Christ
And to ensure Peter and the other believers from Joppa understood this, God allowed His holy Spirit to fall upon their lives in such a visible way that they would know without a doubt that the gospel that came first to the house of Israel now had come to the gentiles
The message was simple now, all are welcome at the foot of the cross,
All are called to come and see, taste and see that the Lord, he is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in HIm Ps 34 verse 8
All can come and have their sins forgiven, and enjoy eternal life...
Like the old preacher used to say, Jesus saves from the utter most to the gutter most… everyone is welcome, come to the Kingdom of God.
Friends, how many of you know someone, a friend, or family member who doesn’t know Jesus Christ?
Are you praying for them? Are you loving them? Are you inviting them?
God longs to include them in His kingdom, He is calling you to be like a Peter and go to even the places we might not go into call them to come, that His houses might be full.
Praise the Lord, He is a saving Lord..
Lets pray