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
Acts 10:1
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.
2.PIOUS
Acts 10:2, 22
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.
3.PRAYERFUL
Acts 10:2, 4, 31
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.
4.PROVIDING
Acts 10:2, 4, 31
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.
5.PERFORMANCE
Acts 10:7, 8, 33
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.
6.PATRIARCH
Acts 10:2, 24
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.
7.PROMISES
Acts 10:44-48
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.
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