Cornelius –the Man Who Had A Heavenly Visitation

CORNELIUS –THE MAN WHO HAD A HEAVENLY VISITATION

OUTLINE

1.POWERFUL

2.PIOUS

3.PRAYERFUL

4.PROVIDING

5.PERFORMING

6.PATRIARCH

7.PROMISES

THE MESSAGE

CORNELIUS –THE MAN WHO HAD A HEAVENLY VISITATION

1.POWERFUL

Cornelius was a powerful man. He was a centurion with a hundred people under his command. He was a man with great responsibilities and a busy schedule. But inspite of his great responsibilities and power he had a heart which sought after God. He did not use his busy life as an excuse to avoid seeking the face of God. Even though he was a heathen who did not the true God yet he sincerely sought God to the best of his understanding. God looked at his heart and granted him a divine revelation. We should avoid making our busy lifestyle as an excuse for not seeking God.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Acts 10:1

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

2.PIOUS

Cornelius was a pious man. He was a devout man who feared God with all his house.He was a just man with a good report among all the nation of the Jews. He was a man of purity inspite of his ignorance of the truth . He walked in the light that he had. As Jesus said ‘blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God? Cornelius feared God and lived his life in reverence before God. We should walk in the fear of God with a devout heart which will bring a response from God.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Acts 10:2, 22

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.

22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

3.PRAYERFUL

Cornelius was a prayerful man. He prayed to God always even though he did not have a personal revelation and a personal relationship with God. His heart was constantly crying out to God. His prayers came as a memorial before God. His prayers reached the very presence of God and God responded to the prayers of Cornelius by granting him a revelation of the truth.We should not be discouraged in our prayer life but continue to pray like Cornelius until we get an answer from God.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Acts 10: 2-4, 30-31

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.

30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

4.PROVIDING

Cornelius was a providing man. He gave much alms to the people. He was concerned about the welfare of the poor and the needy. He lived an unselfish life and was great source of help and refuge to the downtrodden. His alms came as a memorial before God. God took notice of the acts of mercy performed by Cornelius. God was faithful to reward him for his love and compassion.We should help the poor and needy as God is faithful to reward us for the love and kindness we show towards the poor.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Acts 10: 2-4, 30-31

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.

30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

5.PERFORMANCE

Cornelius was a man of performance and action. He was not just a man of empty words and boastings. He promptly did what God told him to do. When the angel of the Lord told him to send men to Joppa and call for Peter to come and tell the truth of the gospel , Cornelius immediately obeyed the instruction of the angel and sent the men to get Peter. His prompt obedience to God brought the blessing of God to his life and family.We should be prompt in obeying the instructions that God gives to us.