PREPARED TO HEAR

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”  Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.  The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”  When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. —Acts 10:1-7

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them….”  The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.   —Acts 10:19-20, 22-23

             In a specific location (Caesarea) there was a specific people (Cornelius & family) that “were devout and God-fearing.”  Cornelius “gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”  This was a man that God was preparing to hear the message that he would send through Peter. 

             First, God gave Cornelius a vision about a specific man (Peter) to send for who was at a specific location (is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea).  Immediately, “Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.”

             Now, while all this was going on, Peter had a vision of animals on a sheet that was lowered down from heaven three times and Peter was told to “get up and eat.”  But Peter said that he had never eaten anything unclean.  The Lord responded that Peter should not call anything unclean that He had made clean.  Our Lord was preparing Peter to go to the Gentile, Cornelius, and his household.

             Then, “Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”  Peter went down and the men said to him— “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

             Who is around us that God is preparing to go to with the message of the gospel that they need to hear.  Oh, that we would be sensitive to our Lord God Almighty and when He guides through His Holy Spirit, may we obey.  Yes, Dear Father, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Dear Son Jesus— for Your glory and the benefit of others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4dprjHfMDY&list=RDMMr4dprjHfMDY&start_radio=1