“This Hour”

Intro

The book of Acts. The book of Acts, in addition to its enormous theological value concerning the work of the Holy Spirit in the church of Jesus, also has considerable historical value.

In fact, through this book, we can learn about the history of the Church of Jesus.

We start from the hills of Galilee in chapter 1 where the disciples gathered while Jesus ascends to heaven, to reach Rome, the heart of the Roman Empire, as described in chapter 28.

There is a progression, a development, a growth of the Church.

This is what we also want to achieve personally: to grow in the Lord more and more every day and see how the Holy Spirit liberates and transforms lives.

The story of the book of Acts is nothing less than the liberation of the peoples of the world held captive by the gods of the nations who enslaved them in their idolatry and unbelief.

Michael S. Heiser

The Gospel advances through the family. The instrument that God will use to spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire will be the family.

In fact, there are several families mentioned in Acts because of their involvement in the expansion of the Kingdom of God:

In Jerusalem, there was the house of Mary (Acts 12:12);

In Caesarea, there was the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:27);

In Philippi, there was the household of Lydia (Acts 16:14) and the household of the jailer (Acts 16:32);

In Corinth, the thing of Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18: 8);

In Rome, the house of Caesar (Philippians 4:22).

Many, mistakenly, delegate the progress and advancement of the Kingdom of God to the Church:

The Church must heal!

The church must evangelize!

The Church must provide for the needs!

Yet, the New Testament is clear: the family is the instrument that God wants to use to bless this generation immersed in sin; God wants to use your family.

Sermon’s outline. In order for our family to be an instrument of blessing, we must realize “the hour” that Cornelius’ family realized: “this hour” (Acts 10:30).

An hour of awakening, a time of fellowship, a time of revelation, an hour in which God will cut down many religious barriers, leaving room for the work of the Holy Spirit.

An hour that would inspire future generations of Cornelius’ house to serve the Lord.

Regarding “this hour” I would like to consider three elements:

The desire to live “this hour” (Acts 10:7);

The need revealed through “this hour” (Acts 10:34);

“This hour” will become His hour (Acts 10:44).

N.1 - The desire to live “this hour”

The desire. Cornelius' desire to see this hour, this meeting, realized is great and can be seen from 2 aspects:

Immediate obedience. Cornelius immediately obeys the angel’s command.

This immediate obedience on Cornelius’ part clashes with the procrastination and disobedience of Ananias and Peter.

Both Ananias and Peter had visions:

The Lord asked Ananias to pray for Saul (Acts 9:13-15);

Also Peter received a vision (Acts 10:13-15).

Both hesitated! Waiting, questioning, procrastinating are all attitudes that will never make us realize the glorious hours that God has established for us.

Procrastination is not only the thief of time, it is also the grave of opportunity.

Anonymous

Lot’s procrastination. Sodom was close to destruction and the angels had already warned Lot, but he procrastinated:

Genesis 19:15–16 NIV

With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.

Cornelius did not procrastinate, he did not disobey, but resolutely obeyed the angel’s instructions because he longed to see that hour of blessing realized in his home.

2. Investment. Cornelius’ desire is also seen in the number and quality of his ambassadors.

For a short trip, two ambassadors were more than enough, but Cornelius sent 3.

Luke provides us with some information about the third ambassador:

A soldier devoted to Cornelius.

Luke uses the term “devoted” to describe Cornelius’ family (Acts 10:2).

Probably this soldier had fought with Cornelius demonstrating loyalty and skills.

Probably he had become part of Cornelius’ family.

When there is desire, we invest, we give the best of ourselves!

Eliezer. When Abraham had to find a wife for his son Isaac, he sent his most reliable servant :

Genesis 24:2 NIV

He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh.

Do we also want to realize this hour?

We invest in the realization of this hour without limiting ourselves to offering crumbs, but rather the best.

N.2 - The need revealed through “this hour”

The need. Through this hour, what was missing in Cornelius' family, in Cornelius' life, and in Peter's ministry will be revealed. Let’s see what was missing:

1. Cornelius’ family. Although Peter, twice, says that Cornelius and his family “knew the message of God” (v. 36) and also what had happened through Jesus’ ministry (v. 37), there was much, much that they still did not know.

From v. 39 to v. 43 we find glorious truths that Cornelius and his family needed to know.

How necessary this hour, this meeting was for Cornelius’ family.

Finally, spiritual ignorance has given way to the glorious truths of the Gospel.

2. Peter. This hour reveals that even in Peter there was a need, a need.

Only thanks to “this hour” does Peter realize his mistaken idea of ​​God and the mission of the Church (Acts 10:34).

This hour must be realized for the good of our families.

As for the house of Cornelius, perhaps your children, your family members need to know that there is a Jesus who still saves, heals, baptizes and returns today.

As for Peter, this hour serves to clarify our ideas about the character of God and His plan of salvation.

Illustration. Solving a puzzle without knowing what the subject is becomes almost impossible. The time we spend analyzing the subject will allow us to solve the puzzle in a short time. We need that to see the picture, we need to experience that hour.

N.3 - “This hour” will become His hour

His hour. This desired hour, this hour capable of revealing what was missing, now becomes His hour: the hour of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit interrupts Peter and begins to fill with power all who hear the message (v. 44).

Baptisms of the Holy Spirit, tongues, praises to the Lord: this is the Pentecost of Caesarea.

It is no longer the hour of Peter’s preaching;

It is no longer the hour of Cornelius;

It is no longer the house of the Roman centurion.

Everything and everyone was under the control and influence of God’s Holy Spirit.

When Peter returned to Jerusalem to tell what had happened in this hour at Cornelius’ house, he was criticized (Acts 11:2). Peter was very clear:

Acts 11:15–17 NIV

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

Cornelius’ house was now the house of God because of this hour!

The same Holy Spirit is available to us to work the same miracle:

Acts 2:38 NIV

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the Holy Spirit did come on the day of Pentecost, and has never left his church.

John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)

Illustration. I had the opportunity to minister in prison for about 2 years. I was assigned to minister to the mafia prisoners. These prisoners had many restrictions, but there was a special hour each day when they could enjoy some fresh air in the prison yard. No restrictions, bars, control, just the hour of fresh air.

Conclusion

This hour. We need this hour, the hour of the Spirit, the hour of Pentecost!

That hour where God takes control of our family and transforms it forever.

Enough of wasting hours and days in useless and violent arguments, let’s let our family be flooded with the power of the Holy Spirit.