Seeking God and finding Him.
Notes
Transcript
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 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 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. 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.
Focus Text
Focus Text
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
Do you know how to seek God?
Do you know how to seek God?
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
I always like a scripture that starts with there was a certain man… according to a quick google search in 2024 there where four billion thirty-two million seven hundred sixty-three thousand nine hundred fourteen men alive in the world and the text talks about Cornelius.
According to Wikipedia this year there are 176,579. according to the United States Census Bureau 51 percent of Abilene is male. Rounded down for whole numbers that means there are eighty-six thousand eight hundred ninety-six men in Abilene. of That eighty-six thousand eight hundred ninety-six men in town you are here. of the 49 Percent of woman that are in town you are here. I have prayed over this message and I have to believe that the Lord spoke to me and you are here.
in short I am saying this, God has a word for you today!
What is a centurion ?
a Leader of 100 Men.
What was the Italian regiment?
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 10
Italian Cohort. (A “cohort” consisted of 600 men under the command of six centurions, but with auxiliary forces in remote areas such as Judea a “cohort” might have as many as 1,000 men.)
Cornelius Did Four things:
He was devout.
He feared God with all his household.
He gave alms generously to the people.
He prayed to God always.
in this we see a template for seeking God.
1. He was devout.
1. He was devout.
in order to explain this concept in detail I had to go to the dictionary.
Devout-pertaining to being devoted to a proper expression of religious beliefs—‘devout, pious, religious.’
Devoted Means Loyal. Loyal definition is 1: unswerving in allegiance:Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).
Allegiance- Fidelity a: the quality or state of being faithful b: accuracy in details: EXACTNESS Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.
Who or what do you love?
Who or what do you love?
What are you loving? what is taking your time and energy? what is taking your resources?
this is how we become devout is by pointing our affections toward the Lord Christ.
2. What does it mean to “fear” God?
2. What does it mean to “fear” God?
One meaning is to respect the Lord and the things pertaining to him!
The balance is not to get so religious Spirit and we don't need to make the other mistake where we are so casual with the things of God that we His people misrepresent His holiness.
we rob ourselves of the beauty of Holiness when we make the magnificent things of God low and common.
9 Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.
3. He gave generously to the people.
3. He gave generously to the people.
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.
20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
4. He prayed to God always.
4. He prayed to God always.
17 pray without ceasing,
8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
