Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Considering the salvation of a centurion and his family
- In the bible are often blessed people
- Examples
- This is new ground for the gospel
- Going into new territory
- To the Gentiles
- A watershed mark in the history of the church
- Acts 1:8
- The gospel was spread abroad
- Consider Philip in Samaria
- Peter starting to move out of Jerusalem [last week's sermon]
- Peter now moving into gentile territory
- Two visions
- Cornelius and Peter
- The Holy Spirit also spoke directly to Peter
- Peter would not have gone without this vision, without God showing him
- He had heard such teaching from Jesus but it hadn't yet dawned upon him
- The three sons of Noah
- The Ethiopian - Son of Shem
- Saul - Son of Ham
- Cornelius - Son of Japheth
- Overview - The work of the Holy Spirit in
Preparing
- Cornelius
- v1-2
- Lived in a largely Gentile town
- He had adopted Jewish religion
- Devout, who feared God, had a good reputation among the Jews
- Generous and prayed often
- Not yet converted - only faith alone in Jesus Christ saves
- He was seeking God and God was drawing him to Himself
- God speaks
- God is using means to draw Cornelius to himself
- First a synagogue
- Now a vision
- Preparatory work to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ
- Grace and favour has been shown to him
- He will not be saved by a vision
- God will send a preacher to him - this is often the pattern
- A God fearer but not Christians
- In the same category of Nicodemus, Ethiopian
- Explanation of Nicodemus
- Explanation of Ethiopian
- How many people sit in church, fear God, even pray - but have not committed their life to Jesus Christ, have not believed in Jesus Christ?
- Today in the day of Salvation
- Whoever believes in Him will be saved - v43
- Example of John Wesley
- 'If you seek God with all your heart, you will find Him'
Sending
- God had to prepare Peter to go
- 'It was not possible to be with a Gentile'
- Peter held onto the Jewish food laws
- Peter was prejudiced towards the Gentiles
- Peter was in prayer
- God spoke to him in the place of prayer
- God will often speak to us in prayer
- 9am in the morning - falls into a trance and sees a vision
- No understanding that the ceremonial law had been done away with at the cross
- God was saying that the gentile people are no longer unclean
- Three times - God was witnessing that this was His word
- Peter was puzzled - v17
- God was gracious and the Holy Spirit spoke to him
- Just go with the people
- Preparing us for mission
- We must not be prejudiced
- Peter had a number of prejudices to overcome
Converting
- Cornelius has invited his whole household, relatives and close friends
- Peter preaches
- God is Lord of all
- Preaches Jesus' life
- The Divinity of Christ
- The Jews killed Him but God raised Him up
- There were witnesses to the resurrection
- As he preached the Holy Spirit worked
- When we preach we need to pray for the Holy Spirit to apply it to people's hearts
- We need to see real conversions
- We need to see a genuine work of God
- The Holy Spirit came down
- Not just on one - on the hole family and household
- They spoke in tongues - v45
- Clear and genuine conversions
- All were baptised
- They wanted more - they asked him to stay
- Does it concern you that we do not see the Holy Spirit coming in power and conviction?
- It seems to be a barren time
- We need to be on our knees [in prayer]
- We need guidance on who to witness to
- We need to pray for the religious
- Example of Martin Lloyd-Jones