Skip to main content

Coincidence?

“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15).

Was it a coincidence that God spoke to Cornelius, an Italian centurion, who was also known to be a God-fearing man and devout worshipper of God and to a man named Simon, who is called Peter at the same time? No, for God had determined Peter would introduce Christianity to the Gentiles at the home of Cornelius in Caesarea.

Cornelius was given a vision by God to send for Peter. Peter while praying was given a vision of a large sheet let down from heaven by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. God told Peter to “Kill and eat.” Peter said to God, “Surely not, Lord.” God then told Peter not to call anything He created impure or unclean. In his same vision, God told Peter there were three men who had come for him and he was to go with them to Caesarea. Peter did as God instructed. When Peter got to Caesarea and the home of Cornelius he found that Cornelius had gathered many of his friends and relatives to hear what Peter had to say to them. Peter told the large crowd how it was against Jewish law for Jews to associate with Gentiles but that God had told him he was not to call any man impure or unclean. Cornelius told Peter how four days before while praying one of God’s angels came to him and told him he was to send for a man named Peter who lived in Joppa.

What appears to be coincidence was God’s plan for the beginning of Christianity among the Gentiles. Peter was His messenger and all that heard Peter speak that day were visited by the Holy Spirit, they spoke in tongues and praised God. All who received the Holy Spirit were then baptized with water in the in the name of Jesus Christ.

(Acts 10:1-48) tells the wonderful story of how we as Christians received the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sanctity Given

A person can’t accomplish sanctification by themselves no matter how much he or she studies the Word or desires this quality. It is not even something God would produce in you as something you would contemplate yourself. Instead it is the Holy Spirit, His Spirit of holiness alone, who can or will communicate His holiness and continue to renew the same in you. By our complete faith we become partakers of His holiness. It is Jesus who sanctifies us for God.  (1 Corinthians 1:30) says, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'” We seek to surrender ourselves to God by faith, so He may enable us to live life moment by moment. By His Spirit, we are to believe the Lord will, lead us into, and keep us in, this life of holiness and consecration to God’s service. We choose to live in obedience of faith, listening to God’s voice – the

A Dead Battery

Last year, around the end of summer, our power-mower gave up the ghost. It was getting harder and harder to start every time I wanted to use it. So, I finally gave in to buying a new one. Bless her heart, my wife Sally told me if she didn’t have to pull that difficult, old starter-cord every time she wouldn’t mind helping me mow every once in a while. She even said it might be good exercise for her. This extra help with the yard work would be welcomed I thought. I went online checking out the outrageous prices of new lawnmowers; it had been four or five years since I bought our last one. Most of the retailers; Lowes, Home Depot,  WalMart and Sears were priced about the same, still way too much for me, but if I was going to get something Sally could start easily it would have to be one of the new key-start models where she didn’t have to pull a cord, she could just turn the key, like her car, and it would start right up. I bought one of these new models.They are great! Last week, an

Go In Peace

The following prayer was prayed by the apostle Paul for the Ephesian people, it is from the Book of Ephesians; and as written by Paul. In this prayer, Paul was blessing the people with more than just good health or prosperity. He was praying for them that God with all His power would increase the indwelling of His Holy Spirit in the Ephesians. He was asking God to confirm in their inner being that out of His love for them Christ would be with them forever. Paul, himself had a tremendous feeling of love for the Ephesians, because he was bestowing upon them some of the most powerful, loving considerations someone could pray for others. This is one of my most favorite Scriptures. Today, the apostle Paul remains our good teacher in Christ. This morning, I am following Paul’s example, praying this model of his prayer for you . Why? Because as I love Jesus, and want to follow His teachings; I am aware that He loves you and wants to bless you. So now, I also pray His blessings upon you.