The Importance of Knowing Christ

1 2 A WEALTHY MAN COLLECTED RARE WORKS OF ART • FROM PICASSO TO RAPHAEL HE HAD MANY MASTERPIECES • AMONG HIS COLLECTION WAS A PAINTING OF HIS SON • IT WAS BY AN UNKNOWN PAINTER & NOT SPECTACULAR 3 • BUT THE MAN’S SON HAD DIED IN THE WAR • AND THE MAN LOVED THE PAINTING • AFTER THE MAN DIED IT WAS ANNOUNCED • THERE WAS TO BE AN AUCTION OF HIS GREAT MASTER PIECES • MANY RICH AND FAMOUS PEOPLE GATHERED HOPING TO • PURCHASE SOMETHING FROM HIS COLLECTION • AS THE AUCTION BEGAN THE PAINTING OF THE MAN’S SON • SAT ALONE ON THE PLATFORM 4 5 • THE AUCTIONEER POUNDED HIS GAVEL. • "WE WILL START THE BIDDING WITH THIS PICTURE OF THE SON. • WHO WILL BID FOR THIS PICTURE?" • THERE WAS SILENCE. THEN A VOICE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM SHOUTED. 6 • "WE WANT TO SEE THE FAMOUS PAINTINGS. SKIP THIS ONE." • BUT THE AUCTIONEER PERSISTED. • "WILL SOMEONE BID FOR THIS PAINTING? • WHO WILL START THE BIDDING? $100, $200?" 7 • ANOTHER VOICE SHOUTED ANGRILY. • "WE DIDN'T COME TO SEE THIS PAINTING.. • GET ON WITH THE REAL BIDS!" • STILL THE AUCTIONEER CONTINUED. 8 • "THE SON! WHO'LL TAKE THE SON?" • FINALLY, A VOICE CAME FROM THE VERY BACK OF THE ROOM. • IT WAS THE LONGTIME GARDENER OF THE MAN • "I'LL GIVE $50 FOR THE PAINTING." 9 • BEING A POOR MAN, IT WAS ALL HE COULD AFFORD. • "WE HAVE $50, WHO WILL BID $60?" • "GIVE IT TO HIM FOR $50. LET'S SEE THE MASTERS." • "$50 IS THE BID, WON'T SOMEONE BID $60?" 10 • THE CROWD WAS BECOMING ANGRY. • THEY DIDN'T WANT THE PICTURE OF THE SON. • THEY WANTED THE MORE WORTHY INVESTMENTS FOR THEIR COLLECTIONS. • THE AUCTIONEER POUNDED THE GAVEL. • "GOING ONCE, TWICE, SOLD FOR $50!" • A MAN SITTING ON THE SECOND ROW SHOUTED. • "NOW LET'S GET ON WITH THE COLLECTION!" • THE AUCTIONEER LAID DOWN HIS GAVEL. 11 12 • "I'M SORRY, THE AUCTION IS OVER." • "WHAT ABOUT THE PAINTINGS?" • "I AM SORRY, THERE WAS A SECRET STIPULATION IN THE WILL. • ONLY THE PAINTING OF THE SON WILL BE AUCTIONED. 13 • WHOEVER BUYS THAT PAINTING WILL INHERIT THE ENTIRE ESTATE, • INCLUDING THE MASTERPIECES • THE ONE WHO HAS THE SON GETS EVERYTHING!“ (PAUSE) • GOD GAVE HIS SON 2,000 YEARS AGO TO DIE ON A CROSS. 14 • MUCH LIKE THE AUCTIONEER, HIS MESSAGE TODAY IS, • "THE SON, WHO WILL TAKE THE SON?" • BECAUSE, YOU SEE, WHOEVER TAKES THE SON GETS EVERYTHING. • IN LIFE WE MAY ENCOUNTER SOMEONE AND THINK WOW THEY HAVE IT ALL 15 • THEY HAVE A GREAT JOB, THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL FAMILY • THEY HAVE A NICE HOME, AND RESPECT IN THE COMMUNITY • THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT OTHERS • BUT WE NEED TO KNOW IF THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SON 16 • THEY REALLY HAVE NOTHING • AND WHOEVER HAS THE SON GETS EVERYTHING • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A MAN • WHO SEEMS TO HAVE EVERYTHING 17 • HE HAS GOOD SOCIAL STANDING, A GOOD JOB • HE EVEN KNOWS GOD • BUT HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SON • TURN TO ACTS 10:1 • LUKE HAD JUST TOLD US ABOUT PETER TRAVELING • THROUGH ALL THE REGIONS THE CHURCH HAD EXPANDED INTO • HE HAD HEALED A MAN WHO WAS PARALYZED • AND HE HAD RAISED A WOMAN FROM THE DEAD • LUKE TOLD US PETER WAS STAYING WITH A TANNER NAMED SIMON 18 ACTS 10:1–2 19 NOW THERE WAS A MAN AT CAESAREA NAMED CORNELIUS, A CENTURION OF WHAT WAS CALLED THE ITALIAN COHORT, A DEVOUT MAN AND ONE WHO FEARED GOD WITH ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD, AND GAVE MANY ALMS TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND PRAYED TO GOD CONTINUALLY. SOME FOLKS ARE RESPECTABLE • THE BOOK OF ACTS IS ALL ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF CHRISTIANITY • THIS VERSE BEGINS THE ACCOUNT OF HOW CHRISTIANITY CAME TO THE GENTILES • LUKE STARTS BY DESCRIBING CORNELIUS 20 21 • WHO WILL BE THE FIRST GENTILE CHRISTIAN • FIRST HE GIVES HIS NAME “CORNELIUS” • THIS WAS A NAME USED BY MANY ANCIENT AND NOBLE FAMILIES OF ROME • THEN HE GIVES HIS RANK, CENTURION, HE COMMANDED 100 MEN 22 • IT IS INTERESTING THAT CENTURIONS ARE ALWAYS SHOWN IN • A FAVORABLE LIGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT • THEN LUKE LISTS THE MILITARY UNIT CORNELIUS IS ATTACHED TO • THE “ITALIAN COHORT” THIS UNIT WAS MADE 23 • OF MEN WHO WERE PARTICULARLY LOYAL • IT IS LIKELY THEY WERE ASSIGNED AS THE BODY GUARD • TO THE ROMAN GOVERNOR WHO LIVED CAESAREA • NOW REMEMBER LUKE IS WRITING THIS BOOK TO THEOPHILUS 24 • LUKE IS MAKING IT CLEAR THAT CORNELIUS • IS A MAN OF GOOD STANDING WITH A FINE REPUTATION. • HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT CORNELIUS IS ALSO A “GOOD” MAN SOME FOLKS KNOW GOD 25 • CORNELIUS IS DESCRIBED AS: “A DEVOUT MAN AND ONE WHO FEARED GOD” • FROM THIS DESCRIPTION IT IS INFERRED HE WAS NOT • A PROSELYTE LIKE THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH PHILLIP HAD MET ON THE ROAD • CORNELIUS KNEW GOD, HE WORSHIPED THE GOD OF ABRAHAM • HE DID SO; “WITH ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD” • BUT HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE FULL STEP OF BECOMING A PROSELYTE OF JUDAISM 26 27 • LUKE HAS ESTABLISHED HE IS A MAN OF GOOD STANDING, WITH A CAREER, • HE HAS STATED THIS MAN KNOWS GOD, • NOT JUST THAT HE PERSONALLY KNOWS GOD BUT HIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD SOME FOLKS HELP PEOPLE • LUKE TELLS US HE “GAVE MANY ALMS TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE” • EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A GENTILE HE GAVE • TO THE RELIEF AND SUFFERING OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE 28 29 • THE WAY THIS IS WORDED MEANS HE DID IT CONTINUALLY • IT WAS PART OF HIS WAY OF LIFE • HE WAS A GOOD MAN THAT CARED FOR PEOPLE • AND DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT 30 SOME FOLKS PRAY • LUKE SAYS HE; “PRAYED TO GOD CONTINUALLY.” • THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC PHRASE IT MEANS HE PRAYED • AT ALL THE PROPER TIMES, THE JEWISH TIMES OF PRAYER 31 • HE NEVER MISSED THE PRAYER TIMES • THIS IS AN AMAZING TESTIMONY FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE • HE IS A GENTILE BUT HE IS DESCRIBED HERE AS FULFILLING 32 • WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A GOOD ROMAN • AND WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A GOOD JEW • AND YET, WE WILL SEE THAT SOMETHING IS LACKING 33 SOME FOLKS ARE GREAT PEOPLE & DO NOT KNOW CHRIST • CORNELIUS HAS A GREAT JOB, HE HAS FINE SOCIAL STANDING • HE KNOWS GOD, HE PRAYS, HE HELPS THOSE IN NEED • BUT HE DOES NOT KNOW CHRIST 1 JOHN 5:11–12 34 AND THE TESTIMONY IS THIS, THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE, AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON. HE WHO HAS THE SON HAS THE LIFE; HE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SON OF GOD DOES NOT HAVE THE LIFE. 35 • SOMETIMES IN LIFE WE ENCOUNTER PEOPLE • THAT SEEM TO HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER • THEY HAVE A GREAT FAMILY • WONDERFUL HOME, GOOD JOB 36 • MAYBE THEY ARE EVEN WEALTHY • THEY DO GOOD WORKS, THEY HELP PEOPLE IN NEED • THEY GIVE AND SERVE, THEY ARE NICE TO PEOPLE • MAYBE THEY EVEN KNOW THERE IS A GOD 37 • PERHAPS THEY EVEN PRAY TO HIM • AND WE HESITATE TO SHARE CHRIST WITH THEM • MAYBE WE DON’T THINK THEY NEED JESUS • MAYBE WE DON’T WANT TO UPSET THEM 38 • AND THEY ARE REALLY NICE, THEY ARE NOT HURTING ANYONE • DO WE REALLY NEED TO TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS? • THEY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE DOING SO WELL • MANY PRODUCTS ARE DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE THE REAL THING 39 • THERE IS PLASTIC DECKING THAT LOOKS LIKE REAL WOOD • VINYL FLOORING THAT APPEARS TO BE CERAMIC TILE • YOU CAN PURCHASE FAKE FUR OR JEWELRY, SILK FLOWERS • BUT WHAT ABOUT A CAN OF SPRAYON MUD? 40 • SPRAY-ON MUD IS DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR SUV • THAT WAY IT APPEARS YOU USE YOUR SUV • FOR MORE THAN TAKING THE KIDS TO SOCCER PRACTICE. • SPRAY IT ON AND FRIENDS MIGHT THINK 41 • YOU'VE JUST RETURNED FROM A WILDERNESS ADVENTURE • SOME PEOPLE’S LIVES LOOK REALLY GOOD • THEY GOT A FRESH COAT OF SPRAY ON MUD • ON THE OUTSIDE THEY LOOK LIKE • THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD • THEY ARE DOING WELL AND HELPING • PEOPLE, THEY ARE NICE AND MAYBE THEY DO KNOW GOD • BUT DO THEY KNOW JESUS? 42 43 • IF THEY DO NOT KNOW JESUS IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW • MANY COATS OF SPRAY ON MUD THEY PUT ON • THEY MAY LOOK GREAT • BUT THEY ARE NOT IN RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST 44 • WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES • TO GET THE MESSAGE OF THE GOOD NEWS • ABOUT JESUS CHRIST TO THEM ACTS 10:3–6 45 ABOUT THE NINTH HOUR OF THE DAY HE CLEARLY SAW IN A VISION AN ANGEL OF GOD WHO HAD JUST COME IN AND SAID TO HIM, “CORNELIUS!” AND FIXING HIS GAZE ON HIM AND BEING MUCH ALARMED, HE SAID, “WHAT IS IT, LORD?” 46 AND HE SAID TO HIM, “YOUR PRAYERS AND ALMS HAVE ASCENDED AS A MEMORIAL BEFORE GOD. “NOW DISPATCH SOME MEN TO JOPPA AND SEND FOR A MAN NAMED SIMON, WHO IS ALSO CALLED PETER; HE IS STAYING WITH A TANNER NAMED SIMON, WHOSE HOUSE IS BY THE SEA.” • CORNELIUS IS A GOOD MAN AND HE KNOWS GOD • BUT HE DOES NOT KNOW CHRIST • JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR HIM TO KNOW CHRIST? 47 48 • IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO GOD THAT HE KNOW CHRIST • THAT GOD SENDS AN ANGEL • THIS ANGEL COMES AT THE TIME OF THE AFTERNOON PRAYERS • THE NINTH OUT IS ABOUT 3:00PM 49 • AND IT SAYS CORNELIUS SAW HIM IN A VISION • WE TEND TO THINK OF VISIONS AS SOMETHING LIKE A DREAM • SOMETHING LESS THAN REAL • BUT THERE ARE TWO PHRASES HERE THAT MAKE IT CLEAR • THAT CORNELIUS IS SEEING SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY THERE • FIRST IT SAYS; “HE CLEARLY SAW” • THIS TERM MEANS TO SEE PLAINLY AN DISTINCTLY WITH YOUR EYES • TO LOOK STRAIGHT AT SOMETHING 50 51 • THE SECOND PHRASE IS “WHO HAD JUST COME IN” • THIS ANGEL DID NOT SUDDENLY APPEAR • BUT, ACTUALLY, ENTERED THE ROOM 52 • VISIONS CAN COME IN DREAMS, OR MEDITATIVE STATES • OR VISIONS CAN BE GOD REVEALING WHAT IS REALLY THERE • BUT HIDDEN FROM OUR NORMAL SIGHT 2 KINGS 6:17 53 THEN ELISHA PRAYED AND SAID, “O LORD, I PRAY, OPEN HIS EYES THAT HE MAY SEE.” AND THE LORD OPENED THE SERVANT’S EYES AND HE SAW; AND BEHOLD, THE MOUNTAIN WAS FULL OF HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE ALL AROUND ELISHA. • IN THE CASE OF CORNELIUS’S VISION • GOD OPENED HIS EYES WHILE HE WAS AT PRAYER • TO SEE THE ANGEL GOD HAD SENT 54 55 • THIS IS HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS • FOR CORNELIUS TO KNOW CHRIST • IT WAS THIS IMPORTANT BECAUSE • GOD KNEW CORNELIUS’S HEART 56 GOD SEES HOW WE ARE LIVING • I LOVE HOW CORNELIUS RESPONDS HERE • HE SAYS “WHAT IS IT, LORD?” • HE IS ASKING THE ANGEL WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO • A LITERAL TRANSLATION WOULD BE 57 • “WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME DO” • THIS IS THE KIND OF ATTITUDE WE SHOULD ALL HAVE • NO WONDER GOD SENT AN ANGEL TO CORNELIUS TO HELP GET THE GOOD NEWS TO HIM 58 • BEFORE GIVING HIM A COMMAND THE ANGEL • EXPLAINS WHY HE HAS COME, HE SAYS; • “YOUR PRAYERS AND ALMS HAVE ASCENDED AS A MEMORIAL BEFORE GOD.” 59 • CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW THAT MUST HAVE FELT TO CORNELIUS? • TO FIND OUT GOD HAD HEARD YOUR PRAYERS • AND SEEN YOU GIVING • THE PHRASE AS A MEMORIAL BEFORE GOD • MEANS THEY WERE RECEIVED AS A SACRIFICE • THIS IS WHAT DAVID DESIRED FOR HIS PRAYERS 60 61 PSALM 141:2 MAY MY PRAYER BE COUNTED AS INCENSE BEFORE YOU; THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS AS THE EVENING OFFERING. • AFTER TELLING CORNELIUS • HIS PRAYERS AND ALMS WERE A MEMORIAL BEFORE GOD THE ANGEL GIVES A COMMAND 62 • “NOW DISPATCH SOME MEN TO JOPPA AND SEND FOR A MAN NAMED SIMON, • CORNELIUS WAS USED TO TAKING ORDERS 63 • HE WAS IN THE ROMAN ARMY • I WONDER IF HE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THE COMMAND • I WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY CURIOUS • WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO SEND MEN TO ANOTHER TOWN 64 • TO GET SOME MAN TO COME HERE • SURLY THE ANGEL COULD GO AND GET THE MAN AND BRING HIM HERE • BUT GOD KNOW SO MUCH MORE THAN WE DO • GOD KNOWS THAT IF AN ANGEL TELLS YOU TO SEND FOR SOMEONE • THEN WHEN THAT SOMEONE COMES • YOU ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO LISTEN • BUT CORNELIUS DOES NOT QUESTION 65 66 • HE IS WILLING AND READY TO DO WHATEVER GOD ASKS OF HIM • GOD CAN SURE DO MORE WITH US WHEN WE ARE MORE LIKE • CORNELIUS, READY TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES A YOUNG MAN CALLED HIS MOTHER 67 • AND EXCITEDLY ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAD • JUST MET THE WOMAN OF HIS DREAMS. • HIS MOTHER SAID, “WHY DON’T YOU SEND HER FLOWERS • AND INVITE HER TO YOUR APARTMENT FOR A HOME-COOKED MEAL?” • THE DAY AFTER THE BIG DATE • HIS MOTHER CALLED TO SEE HOW THINGS HAD GONE • “MOM, THE EVENING WAS A COMPLETE DISASTER,” HE REPLIED. 68 69 • “IT WAS HORRIBLE!” • “WHY, DIDN’T SHE COME OVER?” HIS MOTHER ASKED. • “YES, SHE CAME OVER. BUT SHE REFUSED TO COOK!” • WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO BE THE ONE WHO DOES THE COOKING. 70 • WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER GOD WOULD HAVE US DO • TO HELP THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST • COME TO KNOW HIM. • CORNELIUS DOES A FANTASTIC JOB • OF DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES ACTS 10:7–8 71 WHEN THE ANGEL WHO WAS SPEAKING TO HIM HAD LEFT, HE SUMMONED TWO OF HIS SERVANTS AND A DEVOUT SOLDIER OF THOSE WHO WERE HIS PERSONAL ATTENDANTS, AND AFTER HE HAD EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO THEM, HE SENT THEM TO JOPPA. 72 OBEY RIGHT AWAY • AS SOON AS THE ANGEL LEAVES CORNELIUS CALLS • TWO OF HIS PERSONAL SERVANTS IN • ALONG WITH A SOLDIER WHO IS DESCRIBED • AS A DEVOUT SOLDIER, MEANING HE KNOWS GOD 73 • THIS SOLDIER IS ALSO DESCRIBED AS • ONE OF CORNELIUS’S PERSONAL ATTENDANTS • HE DOES NOT WAIT TILL THE NEXT DAY • AND HE DOES NOT SEND JUST ANYONE TO DO THIS TASK 74 OBEY WITH YOUR BEST • NOW CORNELIUS COULD HAVE JUST TOLD THESE MEN • TO GO TO JOPPA AND FIND PETER AND BRING HIM BACK • BUT CORNELIUS “EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO THEM,” 75 • I AM SURE THEY WOULD HAVE OBEYED EVEN IF HE HAD NOT EXPLAINED • BUT I THINK IT IS VERY LIKELY THEY TOOK THE TASK MORE SERIOUSLY • AFTER CORNELIUS TOLD THEM AN ANGEL OF GOD CAME AND COMMANDED HIM TO UNDERTAKE THIS TASK 76 • HE SENDS HIS PERSONAL SERVANTS AND A GODLY SOLDIER • AND HE EXPLAINS EVERYTHING TO THEM, SO THEY MIGHT • DO THEIR BEST WITH THE TASK • HE THEN SENDS THESE MEN TO JOPPA TO FIND PETER 77 • WHO IS STAYING AT THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE TANNER (PAUSE) • SOMETIMES WHEN WE SEE WHAT GOD IS CALLING US TO DO IN HIS WORD • WE DON’T UNDERSTAND THE HOW OR THE WHY • SO, WE JUST IGNORE THE COMMAND 78 • BUT THAT IS NOT HOW FAITH WORKS THERE IS A STORY OF A CHILD WHO LIVED DEEP IN THE WOODS • HIS FATHER INSTRUCTED HIM TO TAKE A LETTER TO THE VILLAGE • THE FATHER POINTED OUT A TRAIL WHICH THE BOY HAD NEVER BEEN DOWN 79 • "ALL RIGHT, FATHER, • BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THAT PATH WILL EVER REACH THE TOWN, • “DO YOU SEE THE TRAIL AS FAR AS THE BIG TREE DOWN THERE?“ THE FATHER ASKED • "OH, YES, I SEE THAT FAR." 80 • "WELL, WHEN YOU GET THERE BY THE TREE • YOU'LL SEE THE TRAIL A LITTLE FARTHER AHEAD, • AND SO ON UNTIL YOU GET WITHIN SIGHT OF THE HOUSES OF THE VILLAGE." • OBEDIENCE TO GOD REQUIRES AN ELEMENT OF SHEER FAITH • NOT SEEING, BUT TRUSTING AND OBEYING • CORNELIUS OBEYED THE ANGELS COMMAND IN FAITH • WITH NO IDEA AS TO WHY HE WAS TO SEND FOR PETER 81 82 • WE HONOR GOD BEST WHEN WE OBEY • WITHOUT KNOWING THE WHY, OR THE HOW, • BUT JUST IN TRUSTING IN WHO HE IS • AS WE WILL SEE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IT IS A REALLY GOOD • THING CORNELIUS OBEYED, BECAUSE IT WILL LEAD • TO HIM COMING TO KNOW CHRIST 83 LIKE THE MAN WHO GAVE EVERYTHING TO WHOEVER HAD THE PAINTING OF THE SON • GOD GIVES EVERYTHING TO THOSE WHO KNOW HIS SON • SOME PEOPLE HAVE A GOOD LIFE, NICE HOUSE, GOOD JOB • SOCIAL STATUS, THEY EVEN KNOW GOD, PRAY AND GIVE TO THE POOR 84 • BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW CHRIST • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW IMPORTANT • IT IS TO GOD THAT WE KNOW CHRIST • CONSIDER WHAT HE HAS DONE 85 • HOW MANY MEN AND WOMEN OVER THE LAST 2000 YEARS • HAVE LIVED, WORKED, SUFFERED AND IN SOME CASES DIED • SO THAT WE COULD HEAR THE GOOD NEWS (PAUSE) • JUST LIKE THE ANGEL COMMANDED CORNELIUS 86 • GOD HAS COMMANDED US TO GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES • TAKING THE GOOD NEWS TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH • WE NEED TO OBEY THIS COMMAND RIGHT AWAY, WITH OUR BEST 87 • WE NEED TO DO THIS BECAUSE GOD LOVES THE WORLD • AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERYONE • BUT WE ALL SIN…. 88