By Andrew Williams – March 26, 2022
There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius! ” Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, “What is it, Lord? ” The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Acts 10:1-6 HCSB
Good morning fellow disciples.
There are many persons in this world who are seeking God, but they don’t have someone to tell them the good news and to show them how to live their lives surrendered to God. Do you realize that God can use you to be the person that they need to bring them to God?
There are persons who believe that once they have a relationship with God they don’t need another human being. They rely on dreams, visions, and supernatural encounters with heavenly beings to validate their relationship with God.
In this passage we see Cornelius praying to God daily and then God sent an angel to give Cornelius a message. The angel told Cornelius why he came but let us examine the instruction that was given.
“Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
I’m sure the angel could have told Cornelius everything that Peter was supposed to. But guess what? God uses humans to spread the gospel to other humans. God uses a human being to effect salvation, healing, and deliverance in other humans.
Let me make a bold statement. Jesus was a human being. He had human disciples whom He authorized and empowered to be His witnesses here on earth. Peter was one of those witnesses.
When Peter spoke, Cornelius and his household received the gospel and were saved.
As a disciple of Christ, God expects you to be His faithful witness. When you preach the gospel, persons will be saved and because you believe, you can set them free from the oppression of the devil and heal their sicknesses.
Prayer: Father God, I am Your representative here on earth. I will preach the gospel with signs and wonders following. When people hear they will be saved when they accept Your good news. Amen