Day 1 ~ Cornelius about 3:00 pm
Day 1 ~ Cornelius about 3:00 pm
(Simple Instructions)
Caesarea
Cornelius was a centurion, a captain, in the Roman army stationed in Caesarea.
He was a devout man – he worshiped the living God and so did those in his household.
Dictionary: Devout: 1. Deeply religious; pious. 2. Displaying reverence or piety.
Devotion to God is to be obedient to His words…and this is what Cornelius practiced.
Cornelius was a generous man in his acts of charity to the Jewish community.
He was a man who prayed (not sometimes or frequently) but continually. (Acts 10:2)
As you walk through your day, are your thoughts toward the living God – continually in prayer to Him? Praise and adoration are good, anytime!
About 3:00 pm, Cornelius clearly saw a vision as he was praying. In this vision he saw an angel of God enter the room where he was and said to him, “Cornelius!”
That got his attention! When someone says your name, doesn’t that show you they know you?
Listen to what the angel instructed Cornelius to do:
(NASB) Acts 10:4-5 “And fixing his gaze on him (the angel) and (Cornelius) being much alarmed, he said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ And he (the angel) said to him, ‘Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
5 ‘Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;
6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.’”
When the Lord calls you to do something, usually it will be one step at a time. Perhaps you want all of God’s instructions, you want the end results given… my friend, the Lord God did not work that way in the life of Cornelius (a devout man) or in the life of Peter (an apostle of Jesus Christ).
God gave simple instructions and Cornelius acted upon them immediately.
(NASB) Acts 10:7-8 “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,
8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.”
Cornelius chose three trusted men, men who shared his faith in the living God. He instructed them expecting obedience… as he himself obeyed the instructions given to him.
Cornelius…what do you choose to do because of his example?
He worshiped and prayed to the living God.
He was devout and obedient to God’s words.
He was a generous man.
He prayed on a continuing basis.
He obeyed God’s words to him.
~ Take it to heart ~
What will you begin doing because of the example of Cornelius?
Worship God?
Devout to God?
Be Generous?
Pray on a continuing basis throughout your day?
Obey God’s words?