Good day dear friends.
Let us be in prayer for a team from our church heading to Kansas
City for a Leadership Conference at The United Methodist Church of
The Resurrection. Pastor Leslie, Julie Lusby, Judy Allen, Sage
Allen, and Paul Mayhew will be attending this conference. Pray that
God share with them that which will continue to bless our church.
Here is our study guide for today.
Thursday: In Acts 10:2 we find an interesting man. Read his story
and see what sort of model he is to us. What does this man do that
can speak to you and your life? Is love involved in your giving?
If you're not the giving you know you need to be, what is holding
you back? What can God share with you to bring love in your life?
Here is that entire chapter in the NRSV:
1 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the
Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2 He was a devout man who feared
God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people
and prayed constantly to God. 3 One afternoon at about three o'clock
he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in
and saying to him, "Cornelius." 4 He stared at him in terror and
said, "What is it, Lord?" He answered, "Your prayers and your alms
have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa for
a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6 he is lodging with Simon, a
tanner, whose house is by the seaside." 7 When the angel who spoke
to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier
from the ranks of those who served him, 8 and after telling them
everything, he sent them to Joppa. 9 About noon the next day, as
they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up
on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to
eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He
saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down,
being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all
kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13
Then he heard a voice saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But
Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that
is profane or unclean." 15 The voice said to him again, a second
time, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." 16 This
happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the
vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius
appeared. They were asking for Simon's house and were standing by
the gate. 18 They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called
Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about
the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Look, three men are searching
for you. 20 Now get up, go down, and go with them without
hesitation; for I have sent them." 21 So Peter went down to the men
and said, "I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for
your coming?" 22 They answered, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright
and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish
nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his
house and to hear what you have to say." 23 So Peter invited them in
and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and went with them,
and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 The
following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them
and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 On
Peter's arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet,
worshiped him. 26 But Peter made him get up, saying, "Stand up; I am
only a mortal." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found
that many had assembled; 28 and he said to them, "You yourselves
know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a
Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane
or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now
may I ask why you sent for me?" 30 Cornelius replied, "Four days ago
at this very hour, at three o'clock, I was praying in my house when
suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31 He
said, "Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been
remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon,
who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner,
by the sea.' 33 Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have
been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence
of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say." 34
Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God
shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and
does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he
sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he
is
Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in
Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went
about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in
Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a
tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to
appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as
witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the
dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that
he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in
him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." 44 While Peter
was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the
word. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were
astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even
on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and
extolling God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone withhold the water
for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as
we have?" 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
It was in Denver, Colorado, during a seminary year there, while
taking a course called "Super Bible," (which was a nice way of
saying we were to study the entire Bible in three quarters and it
would be taught by both a NT and OT professor) that the assignment
was given me to study this chapter and then meet with both
professors to discuss it. Being one of not too many persons of
color studying there, they were very interested to see what I
thought about this passage.
The chapter concerns the growth of the Jewish faith among non-Jews.
In this particular case, it was a Roman soldier and officer by the
name of Cornelius that has come to faith in God. His faith was one
of devotion and works. Verse two says that "He was a devout man who
feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the
people and prayed constantly to God." You can't ask for a better
Jew, Christian, or United Methodist! In this case, God hadn't yet
shared the Christian faith with him and he calls Peter to come and
share that with him. Peter's being a good Jew, knowing the laws of
social interaction well, is reluctant, but in a vision God shows
Peter that all people matter to God.
We can only imagine what became of Cornelius during the rest of his
life as a Christian. Being in a position of influence I'm sure he
shared this new faith with those in his command. This text also
says that many had come to assemble there to see what Peter had to
say and we can hope they too went and shared their faith.
Someone shared their faith with you and with me. Through the
prayers of faith of someone dear to you, you were touched and
blessed to become a person of faith. Someone has also tried to show
you how important a spiritual matter it is to give back to God, and
I would pray that if this message hasn't taken hold of your heart
that it would soon, if not right now. Cornelius gave out of the
love he had in his heart. He was only following the example of the
God we serve: A God who loves us so much He gives.
PRAYER: God of love and great gifts, give me a giving heart. Let me
be a person of love, the type of love that gives. I pray in Jesus'
name. Amen.
