A Blessed Family

Text : Acts 10

Title : A Blessed Family

INTRODUCTION:

A. How many of you want to be a blessed family - full with the blessing of God -

B. All of us want to become a family like that.

? A happy family

? A family with the power of Holy spirit

? And very important a family that will save when Jesus come again.

Preposition : HOW WAS THE MODEL OF A BLESSED FAMILY?

Answer : By learning from the Cornelius family in Acts 10:1-2, 22, 25

Act 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

Act 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Act 10:22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

Act 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

Why do we need to learn from the Cornelius family? Consider the writing of the Spirit of Prophecy:

“Cornelius was a Roman centurion. He was a man of wealth and noble birth, and his position was one of trust and honor. A heathen by birth, training, and education, through contact with the Jews he had gained a knowledge of God, and he worshiped Him with a true heart, showing the sincerity of his faith by compassion to the poor. He was known far and near for his beneficence, and his righteous life made him of good repute among both Jews and Gentiles. His influence was a blessing to all with whom he came in contact. The inspired record describes him as “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” -- Acts of the Apostles, p. 132.

There are five truths we need to follow from this blessed family:

I. A FAMILY WHO FEAR GOD (v. 2a)

“A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house”

• A pious family ... A family that fears God ... A family that carries out God's commands.

o Proof: After he hears what the Angel has said - He hastens to do it (vv. 7,8)

o He not wait - ah .. so evening, maybe tomorrow .. No!

• “Believing in God as the Creator of heaven and earth, Cornelius revered Him, acknowledged His authority, and sought His counsel in all the affairs of life. He was faithful to Jehovah in his home life and in his official duties. He had erected the altar of God in his home, for he dared not attempt to carry out his plans or to bear his responsibilities without the help of God. “ - Acts of the Apostles, p. 113

• Psalm 127:1, 2 “A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”

• Cornelius needs to learn about Jesus ... that is why God sent Peter to meet him. Jesus is salvation.

• Parents must teach their children … Ecc 12:13, 14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

II. A FAMILY WHO LOVE TO PROVIDE HELP FOR OTHERS (v. 2b)

“which gave much alms to the people”

• Cornelius likes to give alms ... this proves that he is a benevolence - loves to make donations

• Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

• Proverb 3:27, 28 ”Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.”

III. A FAMILY WHO LOVES TO PRAY (v. 2c)

“and prayed to God alway”

• The Cornelius family likes to pray ...

o And this is what made God always bless them...

o Act 10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.