Weekly message: God doesn’t show favoritism (Acts 10) 2/19/2023
By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts &
Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling
Gentiles
Cornelius’ prayer, devout and God fearing
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. (Acts10:1-2) 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. (Acts 10:3-4) . 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: 5-8).
Peter’s vision
About
noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city,
Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to
eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw
heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its
four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as
reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. (vv.9-12) Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat”; “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “ I have never eaten anything
impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
(vv.13-16) While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men
sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.
They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
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 down stairs. Do not
hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (vv.17-20)
Cornelius
answered
Cornelius answered, “Four days ago I was in my
house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in
shining clothes stood before me and said, “Cornelius, God has heard your prayer
and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called
Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.” So
I sent for you immediately and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here
in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to
tell us. (vv.30-33)
God doesn’t
show favoritism
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show
favoritism. But accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”
(Acts 10:35) You know the message God
sent to the people Israel telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ,
who is Lord of all. You know what has
happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John
preached How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and
how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the
devil, because God was with Him.
Peter’s
witness, Holy Spirit poured out on Gentiles
We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in
Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from
the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the
people, but by witnesses who God had already chosen –by us who ate and drank
with him after he rose from the dead.(vv.39-41)
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify
that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All
the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in Him receives
forgiveness of sins through His name. While Peter was still speaking these
words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. (vv. 42-44).
Peter baptized
Cornelius and his relatives
The
circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of
the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles for they heard them
speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep these
people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just
as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (vv.45-48)
Application &
Implication
First, three elements are significant to receive God’s favor, blessing,
the forgiveness of sins, and Holy Spirit.
a. Prayer regularly (or persistently).
b. God fearing.
c. Gave generously to those who are poor and in needs.
Cornelius, a Gentile, had done these elements, in
God’s eyesight he was a righteous and God fearing man, who was also respected
by all the Jewish people. So God sent a Holy Angel said to him, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a
memorial offering before God.” (vv.3-4). God doesn’t show favoritism,
but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. (Acts
10:35) A Gentile Cornelius prayed
persistently, practiced reverence before God, and gave generously to the
poor. He and his families and closed
friends were saved and received salvation and the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus
Christ.
Second,
According to Jewish’s law, it is against
law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him, but God has shown
Apostle Peter that he should not call any man impure or unclean that God has
made clean. Gentiles all who heard the message received Holy Spirit even they
hadn’t yet baptized in the water. So Peter ordered that they be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ. Apostle Peter changed the perspective of old customs, and
followed the Holy Spirit guidance and instruction, he became a great preacher
of Gentles and Jews.
Third, it’s important to develop prayer life regularly.
The Bible does not prescribe the time or length of prayer, but it does offer
guidelines. Jesus prayed before sunrise. (Mark1:35). In Psalm 88 prayer is
offered in the early morning (v.13), and in Psalm 55 prayers are said evening,
morning and noon (v.17). Psalm 119 advocates prayer seven times a day (v.164).
Daniel knelt for devotions three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Peter prayed at the
third, sixth, and ninth hours.
Despite their aversion to prescribed formulas in the life of prayer that
function as a new law, the Reformers did make general recommendations. On the
basis of the Scriptural testimony Luther suggested that prayer should be “the
first business of the morning and the last at night.” He advised: “Cultivate the habit of falling
asleep with the Lord’s Prayer on your lips every evening when you go to bed and
again every morning when you get up. And
if occasion, place, and time permit, pray before you do anything else.” Calvin urged that we offer prayer “when we
arise in the morning, before we begin daily work, when we sit down to a meal,
when by God’s blessing we have eaten, when we are getting ready to retire.”
The
Christian is not bound to ritual laws that regulate the preparation for prayer,
so he is not absolutely bound to set times for prayer. Yet there are times that
are more appropriate for prayer than others: the gathering together for
worship, the hours before work, and bedtime, the time right before meals, when
we need to remind ourselves of the goodness of God. However, a Christian should feel free to pray
anywhere, anytime, in the midst of daily work and play as well as in the
solitude of his room in the early morning or late in the evening.
My friends are you a God fearing person and devote to pray? Keep praying, worshipping and praising God, keep
practicing reverence before God, and give generously to the poor and needs. Don’t
give up because of your physical limitation, or living environment circumstance.
In God’s timing, even you are Gentiles; God will reward your good deeds and your
sincere hearts. You and your families will be saved and receive the salvation, the
Holy Spirit and life eternal through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Bibliography,
Ryrie,
Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible
Institute, 1986.
Job,
Rueben P. A guide to prayer for Ministers and other servants. Nashville, TN: The
Upper Room, 1983
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