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Obedience Leads to Divine Revelation

Obedience Leads to Divine Timing

Obedience Leads to Divine Connections

Obedience Leads to Divine Encounters

Obedience Leads to Divine Understanding

He Chooses Those Who Pray and Obey

Be sure to check out the Acts 10 Outline with links at the end.

What you’re about to read was spoken before written.

It’s the simple story of a soldier and a fisherman. I figured we’d talk about it once, and then move on to something new.

But something happened.

As I prayed and studied, I felt myself walking in their sandals. I fell inside their heads, and hearts. Without compromising the integrity of scripture, I felt what they were feeling, thought what they were thinking.

Three weeks later we were still talking about it.

The storyline mirrors Acts chapter ten. The details are factually sound. However, some of the thoughts and feelings of the soldier and fisherman are some of the thoughts and feelings of this author.

We won’t know for sure, this side of heaven, but I believe what you’re about to read, may very well be an eye-opening, heart melting, description of what was going on inside the characters of our story.

I pray you’re as blessed reading it as we have been experiencing it.

He Chooses the Unlikely

Cornelius, was tough. Had to be. He was in charge of a hundred, soldiers. The Italian Regime. The toughest of the tough. Straight from Rome. He was the leader. Tasked with keeping the peace in the politically charged, city of the elite; Caesarea.

He feared God. Nothing else.

Well, until that moment. He appeared from out of thin air. “Cornelius.”

“Wh-what do you want?”

“Your prayers and gifts have been heard and seen. Now, send to Joppa, for one named Peter.”

What? Who? Where? Wait. The angel was gone.

Did that really happen? No. No, it couldn’t. God would never send an angel to me. Must be seeing things. A hallucination, from fasting. That’s it. When’s the last time I ate? I should eat.

Joppa? That makes no sense. What’s in Joppa? Nothing. Nothing that isn’t already here in Caesarea. God knows that. He wouldn’t need to send to Joppa for some person named, Peter. Why didn’t He just say what He wanted to say through that messenger, angel, or whatever he was?

Joppa’s over thirty miles; a two-day trip. Wasn’t that preacher, Paul, just here not so long ago? Doesn’t Philip the evangelist live right down the street?

Why Joppa?

Oh wait…oh no.

Wasn’t Joppa the place some prophet named Jonah set sail? He ran from God because he didn’t want to tell a bunch of wicked, evil, gentiles—like me—that judgement day had come. He knew, if he did, and they listened, God would show mercy. He didn’t want God to love them, he wanted God to judge them. The Almighty who sees all, saw the heart and hiding place of Jonah. He sent a big storm and a big fish. Jonah got swallowed up and spit out.

Maybe, it was an angel from God after all. Maybe that’s my lot. Maybe judgement day for me has come.

I’ve been weighed in the balance, and this one thing I know for sure and certain, my wicked deeds far outweigh my good. Perhaps my dark and stormy past has come to swallow me up and spit me out.

Yet, the angel said, my prayers and gifts had come before God as a memorial. How could this be? He must’ve meant to say, my wicked deeds have come before the Judge—for judgement.

But, he didn’t.

How could the God of all the universe notice, as a memorial, the deeds of a wicked wretch like me?

I just pray, somehow, someway, someday, I can be forgiven.

Obedience Leads to Divine Timing

Cornelius, the soldier, understood orders. Cornelius, the man, feared disobedience to God, more than looking foolish to men. He also knew delayed obedience, is disobedience.

So, he sent three of his finest, to Joppa, in search of a man called Peter.

It was no small task, a two-day journey, but the next day about noon, his three men entered Joppa.

About that same time, a man called Peter, went up on the roof to pray, but then, he got really hungry, and ordered some food.

While it was being prepared, he had a vision.

He saw a sheet let down from heaven. In the sheet were all kinds of animals, creeping things, crawling things, flying things; all the things considered unclean by a good law-abiding Jew, like Peter.

A Voice followed the sheet, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

Whoa.

I know, I’m hungry enough to eat a horse, but that was just, that was too, that was, that was…wait, was that? …was that, was that the Voice of the LORD?

Peter knew.

He’d heard that Voice before. Many times. Every day for about three and a half years, he hung on His every Word.

So, he should’ve known better than to doubt. He should’ve known the Lord is under no obligation to fit into the logic of man. He especially should have known that God never, ever, ever, needs correcting. The last time Peter tried that; it didn’t turn out so good.

Jesus had told the disciples He was soon to be killed.

Peter rebuked Him. “Not so Lord, far be it from you.” Peter, actually, rebuked, God.

Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind Me, satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Jesus, actually, called Peter, satan.

Ouch.

So, Pete should’ve known better. But religious tradition is a powerful thing and he couldn’t help but blurt it out, again. “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

By Your Tradition You Make Of None-Effect the Word of God (Mark 7:13)

Once again, Peter, the repeater, tried to correct God. He climbed on his moral high-horse to help God see the error of His ways, for even suggesting that Peter touch, let alone eat, any unclean thing. After all, Peter didn’t cuss, smoke or chew—or go with those who do.

Except for one small detail.

Peter used religious tradition to claim he was clean; yet, at that very moment, he was knee deep in dung, so to speak. That very same religious flag he was waving, actually made him unclean. He was living in the house of Simon, the tanner. A man who made a living touching dead carcasses, which, according to Jewish, religious tradition, ranked right up there with brothels and garbage dumps. And, made him unclean, as long as he stayed there.

But in God’s eyes, it deserved an, attaboy. It ranked right up there with Jesus, befriending and associating with tax collectors, harlots, and sinners. God saw it as a blossoming opportunity to teach Peter, and the rest of the world, about His great love for all. Peter wasn’t quite there yet, but it was a start.

In response to Peter’s pious holier than thou, comment, the Voice replied, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

This was done three times (because it takes three times, for guys like Peter, and me, to get it). Then, the sheet was taken into heaven again. Peter scratched his beard, stared into the sky, and listened to his stomach growl.

Obedience Leads to Divine Connections

Upon entering Joppa, the three men stopped to ask for directions, (a miracle) and then found their way to the tanner’s house.

Peter was doubting what the vision meant, so the Spirit spoke to give him a clue. “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

After two days on the road, they looked a little rough. Especially the big one, the soldier, with his sword.

Peter stepped back, resisted the urge to slam the door. They weren’t Jews. Who are they?

“Who are you?”

“Cornelius, a centurion—”

A centurion? A Roman? An unclean, uncircumcised dog? For a moment Peter forgot the Spirit had said, “I sent them.” His knuckles went white as he gripped the door and glanced toward the table where the tanner had left his skinning knife.

The men continued “—a righteous and God-fearing man well-spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews—”

Now I know they’re lying. No centurion is God fearing. And no Jew speaks well of them. But then, he had a flashback to the day Jesus marveled at the faith of…of…a centurion. Peter’s memory echoed with the words of Jesus about the centurion, “I have not found such great faith, no not even in all of Israel.” Peter relaxed his grip on the door. Could this Cornelius, be the same centurion?

“—he was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.”

Peter let out the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, nodded, swung the door open, and invited them in. Defying more laws than the day he walked on water.

Never Get Too Busy With Ministry, to Minister

Peter was popular. Right there in Joppa, God used Peter to raise a lady from the dead. He was a pillar in the church. He was busy. A trip to Caesarea would take at least four days of travel. I don’t have time for that. Doesn’t this centurion know I’m busy? Doesn’t God kn—never mind.

Peter fed and lodged the road weary men. The next day, he gathered a half-dozen of his friends (he didn’t say, if it was because he was afraid, to travel alone with those three strangers), and the ten set out for Caesarea to see a centurion called Cornelius.

Obedience Leads to Divine Understanding

Back and forth Cornelius paced. For the hundredth time, he looked out over the gate. Nothing. What if he doesn’t come? Why should he? What if I misunderstood? What if I was supposed to go to him? What if, what if, he does come, and the message is bad? What if… he paused his pacing and prayed, again. For the hundredth time he prayed for the safe return of his men, and like always, he prayed that somehow, someway, someday, he would be forgiven.

When he opened his eyes, he saw them. Not just a few, but ten.

Cornelius, a centurion, a man of strength and stature, authority and power, dropped at the feet of the one they called Peter.

Without hesitation Peter pulled him up, “Stand up, I too, am just a man.”

They walked and talked straight into the house where Cornelius had invited many relatives and friends.

After explaining about the visit from the angel, Cornelius said, “Now, here we are, before God. Tell us everything He has commanded you.”

Spoken like a true soldier. Straight to the point. Give us the command. Lay out the plan. I like this guy. Peter smiled. His heart melted at the hungry, eager eyes of expectancy staring at him from all around the room.

But then, his breath stopped.

Familiar eyes, pierced him. Humble yet powerful. Peter’s chin quivered, his knees felt a little shaky and his eyes got real shiny. He pulled in a quick breath and his lips trembled as he whispered, his favorite Word, Jesus.

Cornelius blinked.

Peter did too. A few times in fact. And when he did, he didn’t see the same way anymore. He saw Cornelius. The man. Not the centurion. Not the Roman. Not the gentile-dog. The man. The man created in the image of God. A hungry soul in need of a Savior. Just. Like. Him. A brother.

He looked around the room, and saw the same thing too, in each and every one of them. Family.

It was so clear. How could he have been so blind, so long?

Cornelius nodded, urging Peter to speak.

What Jesus had been saying all along—

For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever…John 3:16
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… Matthew 28:19
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
“Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations... Luke 24:46-47
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

—finally got through the hard hearted, thick skull of man, and was officially released through Peter, to the planet.

He opened his mouth and these words fell out: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But whoever, fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

God smiled.

The angels cheered.

The devil cursed, and if he could spit, he’d have spit on Peter.

Even the devil believes, and trembles (James 2:19).

The first recorded sermon Peter ever preached was on the day of Pentecost, and it resulted in the salvation of about 3,000 souls. He didn’t soft sell the gospel then, and he didn’t do it this time either. He didn’t tell them all they had to do was believe, raise their hand, say a little prayer after me, and you’ll live happily ever after. No. He said, this won’t be easy, it’ll take guts, and work, but whoever, fears Him and works righteousness, He won’t turn away.

Salvation is more than lip service or acknowledgement; it is repentance out of reverential fear resulting in righteous living.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

Peter’s introduction was simply sharing his most recent, relevant, revelation: “God shows no partiality.”

Praying on Purpose Leads to Relevant Revelation

He followed with an opening statement that was clear and concise, without hesitation or apology, and the greatest Truth ever spoken, “Jesus Christ is Lord of all.”

Peter could’ve ended right there and had an altar call. But, like Peter and preachers are prone to do, he kept right on talking.

He did a great job too. In about a minute and twenty seconds he told the whole gospel story. He gave his testimony, their testimony, and God’s testimony.

And then, Holy Spirit showed up, and the rest is…HIStory.

After his introduction and opening statement, he brought them into the story by confirming what they’d already heard. This word you know; how Jesus Christ went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil. He pointed to current events they were familiar with and let them know, that was God at work, right in their midst.

To this day, God still speaks. His Word is being fulfilled right before our eyes, in a more accurate and timely manner than all the daily news combined.

His Voice echoes with every sunrise and sunset.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard. Psalm 19:1-3

Peter didn’t sugarcoat the message. He clearly told how they killed Jesus, by hanging Him on a tree.

However, he respectfully avoided blatantly blaming the Romans. He said, “they,” meaning the Jewish religious leaders. The words describing the Roman method of execution, (cross, crucified, crucifixion) were never used.

Nevertheless, everyone in the room knew what was meant by, “hanging Him on a tree.”

Especially Cornelius.

He probably felt the bead of sweat break out on his forehead. He tried to swallow, but the lump wouldn’t go. He lifted the cup, but his hand was trembling. Hammers pounding spikes through skin, ordered by him, echoed in his memory. He clenched his jaw. What if I’m ordered to arrest this man? I want to serve God. I do. But how? This is my job. My career. It’s who I am. It’s all I know. But, what if, what if…I’m ordered to kill this man of God called Peter? God forgive me. He tried to keep his eyes from spilling, but failed.

The fisherman embraced the soldier, and smiled as he said, “But God raised Him up on the third day. Many of us are witnesses to this fact. We talked with Him and walked with Him. We ate and drank with Him. He commanded us to preach that He is Judge of the living and the dead.”

Judge? Cornelius’s heart sank.

Peter switched to God’s testimony.

How everything written and everything said, from all of the prophets, pointed straight to Jesus the Christ, through Whom there is forgiveness of sins.

Obedience Leads to Divine Encounters

Peter was just getting warmed up, when the Holy Spirit shut him down, with a Holy amen.

Forgiveness? Cornelius lunged forward with his hand in the air like a schoolboy with a question. He couldn’t wait a moment longer. Forgiveness. How do I get it? His mouth dropped open to ask but words he’d never heard came rolling out instead. He felt a hundred pounds lighter, and he knew, he just knew, he was forgiven. He didn’t know what he was saying, but he knew he was thanking and praising, the God of all the universe, who was not only the God of the Jews, but his God, too.

The mouths of Cornelius’s friends and family dropped open just the same and a joy-filled language they’d never spoken bubbled out.

Peter’s half-dozen Jews, also had their mouths hanging open, but nothing came out. They just stared, shaking their heads. Astonished that God poured out His Spirit, on gentiles, just like He did on the Jews, in the upper room on the day of Pentecost.

Right then and there, the gentiles received a blessing and the religious were taught a lesson.

That blessing, and that lesson, continues for all of us, from that day to this.

Even more, it’s an ongoing answer to the very prayer of Jesus.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:20-23

If you don’t know, that your sins are forgiven. You can.

If you don’t have the relationship with Jesus, you know you should. It’s time.

Do you feel unlikely to receive Divine, revelation, timing, connection, encounter, understanding; but want to?

Are you willing to pray and obey?

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we can relate to Cornelius. We’re unworthy. Our sins are many.

It’s hard to think You notice us. Harder still to think You care. It’s near impossible to believe You actually love us.

But we make a decision, on purpose, here and now, to believe You do.