Author: missionspaul

When the new season comes
Acts 10:7
“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.”

It is when it’s the lights have gone out that it really matters. When the voice stops and God goes quiet what happens next?
It is easy to be a follower when God is obviously with us and he is continually speaking. It is more difficult when He seems distant.
Cornelius began to do what He had been asked to do.
He chose 2 servants and one of his attendants who like Cornelius had a spiritual life trying to follow our God with a desire for Him.
Whatever God has said then at some point He is going to back off and allow you the space to do what He has said.
At that point you will need begin to make some wise choices based in what is needed to be done. God tells you what to do and you have to decide how to do it or who you will choose for your team. That’s partnership.

Thankful for now.
Acts 10:6
“He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Simon Peter stayed with Simon the tanner.
This lodging place would be the preparation Peter would need as he soon would be launched into a Gentile ministry.
Everything we do is preparation for the next chapter of our life even when we do not know it. How is this so? Because God is involved in your life continually and we are part of His story.
So look around your life now. Look at the ordinary things. Maybe who you are lodging with! What could this be preparing you for? It would be impossible to know. But it does mean we can be thankful for our lives as they stand right now.

The price of a preacher.
Acts 10:5
“Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.”

Cornelius was being told by the Angel that he needed Simon Peter. Angels cannot do what appointed people can do which is to preach. Cornelius needed someone to explain the Scriptures to him, he needed a preacher, an explainer of God’s Word and it was going to be Simon Peter.
Cornelius was also told to send men to get Simon Peter. The cost of transport and getting to Cornelius lay with himself not with Simon Peter.
Often we want things on the cheap.
When I preach in the UK I always pray that God may call someone into missionary work or that others may give or commit to praying for missions. In the vast majority of the churches they always pay the price for me being there and only on a few occasions have I either:
Come away with nothing
Come away with a hug
Come away with a £5 note (which I gave back as I thought they may need it more than me!)
Come away with a promise that ‘we’ll send you something’.

So what?
My point today is, who speaks regularly into your life? Who is your ‘preacher’? Who explains the things of God to you?
Do you need to ‘send’ for them? Do you need to attend the church? Do you need to order a book, download a podcast etc?
You do need to pay the price for your ‘preacher’. You need to pay the cost of spiritual advice, teaching of the Bible, application of your discipleship. The cost lies with you not your ‘Simon Peter’.

Words and deeds
Acts 10:4
“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.”

What is it?
What have I done wrong?
What do you need me to do?
What do you want from me?
No none of these.
What is it?
“You’ve already done enough. I don’t need anymore from you. I’ve come because of all you have done.”
That’s what God was saying.
Friends, your prayers are never wasted. You might think no one is listening but this verse shows you that He is. Every prayer no matter how long or short. He hears you. He knows what’s coming out of your mouth and what comes out of your hand. He knows what you do with your money. He knows how generous you are. He knows how you give. You may be a secret giver but God knows.
And your words and your actions move Him towards you!

Your name
Acts 10: 3
“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!”

We already know Cornelius was a man of prayer. Luke writes it was 3pm, the time of prayer for the Jews. In fact Cornelius would say it was this time in his testimony to Peter later. So when Cornelius was praying something happened ……..
Are we surprised?
This was not a dream but it was as vivid as it could possibly be, so much so that Cornelius would say a man stood in front of me. For him, it was definitely happening. God had come. How God comes to us which is varied isn’t the issue, what He says to us is.
“Cornelius!”
That the infinite far and beyond God, the creator of the whole earth, Almighty God, should be bothered with a man on earth enough to know his name and to call it is actually amazing.
And what is true of Cornelius is true of you.
He knows your name today and has called it many times. He knows all there is to know about you. And all of this is held in the fact that He loves you. Amazing!

The religious influencers

Acts 10: 2
“He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”

Cornelius, tired of empty religious rituals, turned to Judaism hoping he and his family could find salvation.
They became devout, worshippers of God, givers of alms and a family who prayed. They were good people. They were religious people. But they were not Christ-followers, they did not know Jesus.
Now think for a moment ….
1. Can you believe with me that there are still more influential people that God has called for His Kingdom. He has his hand on them now. People like:
a. The ‘Big Bang Theory’ star Mayim Bialik studies Jewish texts and keeps the Sabbath even to the point of not using social media during that time
b. Jennifer Lawrence of ‘The Hunger Games’ is quoted as saying “it would be weird for me to go to sleep without praying.”
c. Angelina Jolie after directing the film ‘Unbroken’ said “there’s something greater than all of us and it is uniting and beautiful.”
These are just people in the entertainment industry but they are influential in every sector of society. They may not yet have come through into full faith, they may not yet be full on disciples of Jesus and they may get lots of criticism for their many mistakes. But can you believe that God has ear-marked such people to be His people?

2. Can you believe with me that the most religious person you know who doesn’t have the relationship that you have with Jesus is a candidate for a supernatural encounter with God? Maybe your neighbour is a Muslim (and a practicing Muslim at times appears more devout than a Christian) and is carrying out religious duty every day. Can you believe that God is going to miraculously encounter them very soon? It is happening all over the world right now!

3. Can you believe that God has heard their prayers and will respond to them? Can you believe that God hears the unsaved with their wishful praying in the same way He hears your praying?

If you can believe these three things then how exciting is the future?!!
If you can believe these three things then will you pray for them?

Who is your Cornelius?

Acts 10:1
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.”

There was a man who lived in a prominent Roman city, Caesarea, on the Judean coast.
His name was Cornelius and he was an officer in the Roman army.
The Roman army were the oppressors of the Jews and Cornelius was a key officer in that task.

So in effect the verse should read: At Caesarea there was a man hated by the majority of Gods people.
We are going to find out what happens to him. But today remind yourself that there are people caught up in a system, in an organisation, political and religious and who may carry out injustices and unethical practice who are doing their jobs. But at the end of the day they are a man and a woman with a family just like you and me. Real people with real feelings. Just because they are within a framework which you may hate doesn’t mean they are a man or woman who should be hated.
Choose love not hate.

Prejudice
Acts 9:43
“Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.”

A most interesting verse!
The number one preventative and killer of cross cultural mission is prejudice by people who can give evidence that they are not prejudiced.
Acts 10 gives the reason why the apostles had not gone to the world even though Jesus had asked them to do so 14 years previously: they were prejudiced.
Peter would be reprimanded by God over his thoughts of the Gentiles and the subsequent family conversion of the Italian family changed all that.
The reason why this was so shocking to Peter was that he didn’t think he was prejudiced. This verse shows how he stayed in the home of a tanner named Simon. The tanner worked with the skin of dead animals making him ceremonially unclean and Peter is with him. If anyone asked Peter if he was prejudiced he would say NO. And so would many people. Not many admit to being prejudiced. But many prejudge others without knowing their story first.

The big event

Acts 9: 42
“This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”

Can you imagine one event that is known all over a city? A lot easier than in the days of Philip within Joppa. Today through social media we have statuses, uploads and downloads within seconds and even as the action is happening. Live now in Joppa, woman raised from the dead speaks!

Can you imagine one event leading to many new believers?
Lord let an event take place today that will shake our villages, towns, cities and nations.
One global event can send tremors throughout the world.
Can you imagine the Spirit doing such a global event?
Lord let such a global event take place today!

Will you pray for such events?
Will you participate?
Will you GO?

Mission is not compicated

Acts 9: 41
“He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.”

The process of mission:

1. Offer your hand to someone. Be a friend.

2. Help them up. Give them dignity.

3. Call the Church. Introduce similar journeys to your friend.

4. Call those who weep. Showing with God anything is possible.

5. Present the greatest miracle statement:
I was dead but now I am alive!