17 May 2009
Sixth Sunday in Easter
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fortress Chapel
Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes
Tall-afar, Iraq
BIG IDEA: When the Holy Spirit fell on the people in Cornelius’ House, before they knew it, they were transformed (and had become new), and were prophesying.
REFERENCES: John 14:16 (ESV) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever; O.T. – Ruah/Spirit of God; N.T. – Pneuma/Spirit of God; John 15:26 (ESV) But swhen the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me; Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God mmust believe that he exists and mthat he rewards those who seek him; 1 Corinthians 14 (ESV) – Prophesying and Tongues; 1 Corinthians 14:10 (ESV) There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning; 1 Samuel 10:9-13 (ESV) After Saul left Samuel, the promised signs came to pass.; Proverbs 24:3 (ESV) By ywisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; Cornelius – means the beam of the sun. Pitiless/hard/merciless and ruthless; Cornelius of Acts was the First Gentile Convert to Christianity. Centurion: There were grades among the sixty centurions serving in a legion, with the highest ranking centurion achieving a position similar to that of a knight among the Roman nobility. Such men were prestigious members of the relatively small class governing the military. Acts 10 (ESV) – One of the most important chapters in the entire book of Acts, because it records the opening of the doors of faith to THE GENTILES; Acts 2:4 (ESV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began kto speak in other tongues las the Spirit gave them utterance; Acts 2:6 (ESV) And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language; Acts 2 (ESV) – The keys of the kingdom to the opening of the doors of faith to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost; Acts 8:14 (ESV) the opening of the doors of faith to the Samaritans; Acts 15:6-11 (ESV) – Peter’s Meeting in Jerusalem; Acts 11:1-18 (Peter’s account – to the Church at Jerusalem - of what happened at Cornelius’ House); Proverbs 21:9 (ESV) It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife; Matthews 21:13 (ESV) He said to them, it is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you make it a den of robbers; Ezekiel 37:1-10 (ESV) The Valley of Dry Bones; 1 Samuel 9:1-27 ESV (Saul Chosen to be King); 1 Samuel 10:5-7 (ESV) After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down nfrom the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, pand you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when qthese signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you ; 1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV (What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Acts 10:44-48 (ESV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Acts 10:44-48 (ESV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Acts 10:44-46a ESV (While Peter was still saying these things, ithe Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among jthe circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because kthe gift of the Holy Spirit lwas poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them mspeaking in tongues and extolling God …)
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that when the Holy Spirit fell on the people in Cornelius’ House - their hearts were transformed and they began to prophesy.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “Cornelius’ House”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) says … without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
The Good Book tells the Story of Israel’s First King – Saul, Son of Kish – who was chosen by God to be King in 1 Samuel 9:1-27. The people of God had been prophesied to by Moses in Deuteronomy that they would one day want a king in order to be like the other nations.
So, later, in 1 Samuel 10:9-13, as you may recall, we find Saul receiving a dispensation of the Holy Spirit which transformed his heart and changed his life because he believed the Words fo the Prophet.
For don’t you remember, Saul’s Father Kish’s donkeys were lost; and Kish asked Saul to take someone along with him to find the donkeys.
In the process of looking for the donkeys … he stumbled on Samuel.
Samuel under the guidance of God, secretly anointed Saul to become Israel’s First King and gave him signs of confirmation.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 1: One of which was seeing the prophets coming down from their high place of worship (with their 4 piece band equipment) prophesying.
a. For 1 Samuel 10:6 (ESV) says … upon seeing this incident … Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, pand you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
b. So, Saul being changed into another man/different man is a metaphor for what happens when the “Holy Spirit falls upon us. It changes us!
c. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: The Proverbial writer says in Proverbs 24:3 (ESV) By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
a. As a child, I recall my father saying – “A man’s home is his castle”. I can’t honestly say that I’ve always understood that phrase, but if my father intended to convey that the home is a man’s safe haven – I think I understand.
b. If the phrase – “A man’s home is his castle” mean that it’s the one place every man should be able to relax, and every woman be able to let her down and not be disturbed, I agree.
c. So, if the phrase, “A man’s home is his castle” means that his home is his getaway – I’m tracking.
d. Because, after 6 months in Iraq, I’m really looking forward to going home on R&R in August and for good in November. What about you? Are you looking forward to going home or to your humble abode?
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: Now, my brothers and sisters, perhaps some of you – like me - can attest to the fact that you can tell a lot about a person by simply walking around in his or her house.
a. Inside the house alone will tell many stories and testify to many occurrences in life of the occupants.
b. By looking at the pictures on the wall – one can gather a pretty good understanding of how the occupants views life, and where the occupants have been.
c. For there is a story within each picture.
d. History lies within the decorations and furniture of the occupants.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: For instance, just one trip through your home will reveal to me where you’ve been and who’s your God.
a. A tour through your home or your dwelling place will reveal to me if you have children and how many grandchildren.
b. The walls inside your house will tell me.
c. The inside of your house will tell if you have a good marriage or a poor marriage; if you single or divorced. If I’m ever auspicious enough to visit your house … before I leave, I will even know the perceived color of your God - all from having been inside your house.
d. Now, my brothers and sisters, according to “Harper’s Bible Dictionary,” a house is the ordinary dwelling unit of the settled population and the Bible offers numerous references to specific parts of houses, such as roofs, upper rooms, doors, courtyards, but it gives no full description of a typical house in Biblical times.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: Now, in our text today, we find ourselves “in the house or the abode” which was owned by Cornelius – a military man who was currently serving in the Roman’s Army in the position of Company Commander.
a. He was stationed in Caesarea.
b. As a Company Commander, like many of our commanders of today, he was responsible for a minimal of 100 Soldiers.
c. It was his primary duty and responsibility to ensure his Soldiers were trained, prepared, and ready for battle and – if called upon - disciplined enough to win the war.
d. Cornelius was a trained and disciplined warrior! But, in addition to being a military man who was both tactically and technically proficient in his MOS – Cornelius was also known amongst the military ranks as one who feared-God.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 6: Cornelius was Religious – he was pious, honest, and generous - he had a working knowledge of God.
a. He was associated with a church in his community – where as a religious man he probably frequent the church because he was grateful for all that God had done in his life … and for his family.
b. But he wasn’t saved.
c. He had not received the Holy Spirit!
d. For the Scripture says in Acts 10:1-2 (ESV) At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of wwhat was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man xwho feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 7: The Good Book says that Peter, as requested, went to Cornelius’ House and preached a message that Cornelius, his household and friends already knew …
a. … for the message was about Christ’s miracles, His death, and His resurrection.
b. Then Peter said, “… He (meaning God) commanded us – Jewish Witnesses – to preach unto the Jewish People which is all the apostles did up to now.
c. In other word, Peter told the folk in Cornelius’ House that Christ came to save the Nation of Israel …
d. But now Peter was suddenly … realizing that with God … there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles …
e. So he said … in verse 43 … “whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (NKJV).
f. And … it was at this point the Holy Spirit interrupted Peter and fashioned a miracle in the hearts of Cornelius’ and his household.
g. They believed the Word!
h. And the Spirit was poured out upon them, the evidence being that they spoke with tongues.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 8: Cornelius’ entire household was saved! His family and friends – everyone that was in his house.
a. As a result, they were completely changed.
b. Pictures that had at one time hanged on the walls of their hearts – were no longer there.
c. Images of other gods and other women (or men) were gone!
d. Old old things had passed away; behold, all things were new.
e. Cornelius’ household was SAVED, and they had a new outlook on life,
f. Salvation causes you to be different – in and out! Because the Holy Spirit is our Counselor and our Helper!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION:
He Protects us; He leads and guides us. Jesus says in John 14:16 … I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever;
For the Scriptures says … in John 15:26 .. when the “... Helper comes,
whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father,
the will bear witness about me.
The Helper comes to CLEAN HOUSE and to make us WITNESSES!
