Every Day Answers

Acts 10:1-5 (ESV) 1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.

• Would it make a difference to you in your prayer life and giving life if you realize that the Lord is actually paying attention to how much you engage in each…?

1. Who was Cornelius?

2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

1.1. He was a man the Lord heard and answered.

1.1.1. A centurion – a Commander.
1.1.2. A devout man – reverent, godly, dutiful.
1.1.3. A God fearing man – and raised a household who feared the Lord.

1.1.4. He was a giver.

1.1.5. He was a prayer – prayed continually.

1.1.6. Had an angelic visit.

1.2. It was like Cornelius was saved even before He was saved.

1.2.1. When someone is ready they are ready and until they are ready there is no one on this planet that can make a person ready.

1.3. The birth of the gentile Church was about to take place.

1.3.1. Around 10 years had passed since the outpouring on the day ofPentecost.
1.3.2. The magnitude of the miracle that was on the verge of breakingforth.

1.3.3. Launched with power as the Holy Spirit fell upon the Greeks in the same way as He did among the Jews.

2. We know God hears and answers prayers.

4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

2.1. Cornelius prayers were heard.

2.1.1. When your prayers and offerings become a memorial.

2.2. Knowing comes from knowing.

Psalms 116:1 “I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice in my supplication”
Be still and know. Ps 46:10

2.3. The Test of Knowing Him

1 John 2:3 (NKJV) Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

2.4. When Peter was put in prison “prayer was made without ceasing”

2.4.1. When he was supernaturally released they were surprised.

2.4.2. “What surprises of goodness and grace has God in store for His people.” – McCheyne

3. Our knowing comes from intimate knowledge.

Job 42:5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;

3.1. From hearing only – to knowing by seeing.
3.2. There are sweet blessings that come by the most unsought and un-prayed for circumstances…

3.2.1. “trials make the promise of sweet – trials give new life to prayer” – McCheyne

3.2.2. If prayer is waning in your life then a good trial might be the jolt you need.

3.2.3. “Perhaps some of us were only receiving the information into the head; is not God now I’m pressing it on our hearts and driving us to practice the things which we have learned” McCheyne

3.2.4. Job became one of the most blessed men ever but I am not referring to the return of children and goods but from the seeing of his eyes and experiencing the sweet justification from knowing the Lord intimately.

3.3. Our experiential knowledge becomes very precious and fruitful .

3.3.1. Ela… before I knew my wife we lived 10,000 miles apart. Now, there was not going to be any fruit of knowing 10,000 miles apart. It was not until we were married, together and able to become intimate that fruit of that intimacy was being borne. And some would say has not stopped since.

3.4. Knowing that the Knower knows.

Matt 6:8 your Father knows what you have need of before you ask

3.4.1. If only we would pray consistently and know the Knower.

3.4.2. He knows what you have need of.

4. How the Lord answer comes in various ways…

4.1. Robert McCheyne says…:

4.1.1. “There are many sweet, providences happening to us every day, if we would, but notice now”
4.1.2. “In the text which ministers choose, what remarkable providences God often brings about”

4.2. He sends His angels.

3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?”

4.3. He strengthens us from within.

Psalms 138:3 on the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

4.4. He works miracles in our life.
4.5. He fills us with power from on high.
4.6. We pray and then we look up from where our help comes.

Psalm 5:3 my voice, so you here in the morning in the morning I will direct my prayer onto you and will look up (or watch)

Psalms 121:1-2 (ESV) 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

4.6.1. Ela… lifting up your eyes…

4.6.2. Look up.

4.7. We pray and the Lord pours out His Spirit.

5. The Holy Spirit fell….

Acts 10:44-46 (NKJV) 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

*There is so much to unpack here.*

5.1. While Peter was going about his ministry of preaching the Holy Spirit took over the service.

5.1.1. This would have likely been called out of order by some people today.

5.1.2. Holy Spirit now is not the time to do this.
5.1.3. Sermon first. Altar call. Give some people the chance to slip out the back door.
5.1.4. It was like He could just not wait any longer.
5.1.5. Maybe Peter was just preaching too long. Hahaha

5.2. A couple points to understand about this second outpouring compared to the first outpouring on the day of Pentecost.

5.2.1. On the day of Pentecost they were all Jews present. Not one gentile was in the room.

5.2.2. On the second outpouring was all non-jews who received and not one Jew.

5.2.3. The Jews present recognized that the outpouring on these people was the same gift of the Holy Spirit that had been poured out on the Jews.

5.2.4. In both initial outpourings there was not an altar call or even a moment when outward decisions to follow Christ were professed…

5.2.4.1. Because Christ looks upon the heart of man.

5.3. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the Great equalizer.

5.3.1. As tongues unifies with one language.
5.3.2. This is why The Apostle says 1 Cor. 14:18 “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.”

5.4. Ela… He fell upon:

5.4.1. to fall upon, to rush or press upon

5.4.2. to lie upon one
5.4.3. to fall into one’s embrace
5.4.4. to fall back upon

5.5. The New Testament Holy Spirit time line…

5.5.1. Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit
5.5.2. Elizabeth and John were filled with the Holy Spirit.
5.5.3. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit at the river.
5.5.4. The 120 were filled with the Holy Spirit.
5.5.5. Samaritans were filled at the coming of Peter and John.

5.5.6. Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit on the road to Damascus.

5.5.7. Now the non-jewish people.

5.6. It makes no Biblical sense, or good ole fashion logic, or is it stated anywhere in the Word that every believer, Preacher, minister and leader should not expect for the Holy Spirit to continue to fall as He wishes, when He wishes, and in any way that He wishes…

5.7. Also, each believer should pray and expect for the Lord Jesus to pour out His Spirit into your life.