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.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Acts 10:5- 8, 32-33
5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.
6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.
8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
6.PATRIARCH
Cornelius was the patriarch of the family. He was concerned about the salvation of the entire household. He called together all his kinsmen and his friends to hear the truth of God from Peter. He had a heart for the whole family.He was not just concerned about himself. He was burdened for all his family members and friends.And God granted the desires of his heart.We should have such a burden for all our near and dear ones and God would grant the desires of our hearts and bless our efforts to win them.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Acts 10:2, 24-27
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.
24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
7.PROMISES
Cornelius was a man who inherited the promises of God. He started out as a heathen who did not know the true God. Yet his fervent prayers and alms reached the very presence of God. His hunger for God brought a divine response from heaven and he was granted an angelic visitation. His desire for the salvation of all his family members and friends was granted in such an astonishing manner that even those who came with Peter were amazed when God poured out His Holy Spirit on all who heard the words of Peter even while he was speaking. The entire house hold of Cornelius was baptized as a result. Cornelius was a man who reached out to God and inherited his abundant blessings in his life. We must follow the example of Cornelius in our own lives and reach out to God with persistence and faith and receive all the blessings He has in store for us.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Acts 10:34-48
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—
37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.
40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
