Devotion for Thursday, 30 June 2011 Anno Domini Acts 10, one thru 23

Devotion for Thursday, 30 June 2011 Anno Domini Acts 10, one thru 23
“1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.” (Acts 10:1-23)
Today’s text has been misapplied and misinterpreted often to justify the repeal of the Old Testament food laws. Regardless your opinion concerning the food laws, this passage has nothing to do with repeal of them. It addresses a totally different subject as we shall see. It introduces a new thing in the providence of God – the inclusion of the Gentiles into the Church of God.“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” The courage, valor, and conviction that attend a man in the profession of arms are not unlike that required in the army of God. It is quite true that many who are in that profession fall far beneath the ideals for which they have been sent to do battle, but so do many Christians fall short of courage, valor, and conviction. Working closely with military flight training officers over the years, I have found them much more inclined to serious faith than the general population. Moreover, he does not advocate war, but is responsible more form maintaining peace. “The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” General of the Army Douglas MacArthur in his farewell address to Congress. This man, Cornelius, is a centurion (equivalent to an Army captain) who is devout and fearing of God. He is generous as well in almsgiving and prayer. Such a man is a star on the escutcheon of any people or nation. He had outgrown paganism and searched for something real and substantial in God. He fasted and prayed which is more than many veteran Christians of today. He brought his entire family and household of servants to God.
“He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour (3 PM) of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” This may be the Lord Himself for the angel did not reject the title, Lord. Naturally, Cornelius was afraid. What similar appearance had been made to a Gentile, and one who commanded Roman troops? His innocent and childlike response at the vision sums up the character of this man of arms. Cornelius had prayed in humble petition to God and he may now rejoice in receiving a surprise answer to those prayers. I am forever amazed that believers remain surprised when God answers our prayers so completely.
“And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” This is the first step in the answer to prayer. The vision has come to Cornelius to confirm that the prayers are heard. God will undertake a process whereby his prayers of enlightenment will be fully answered. Quite often, our prayers are answered in such steps and not all with one confirming seal! Find Peter and he will tell you what needs to be done. He provides both name and address. “And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually.” Cornelius does not procrastinate in following orders. He is accustomed to responding to orders with promptness and attention to detail. He calls for two servants, and one trusted veteran soldier. “And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.” A good officer never sends his men on a mission with less than full disclosure of facts. So Cornelius declares all to his servants and knows that his orders will be followed.“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour (or 12 Noon).” God has prepared Cornelius for the occasion, and now He will prepare Peter for the matter. The timing of God is always perfect! “And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.” God even provides Peter with an appetite to make greater drama for his soon-coming vision. “And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.” Beasts of every kind were presented to Peter at a moment of great hunger, and the beasts were of all manner of unclean animals which God had proscribed in the food laws. In the vision, God makes a command that does not seem reasonable to Peter: And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.” It would be especially awful for Peter to eat these creatures in abrogation of the food laws of God, but God is teaching Peter another lesson, not of food laws, but of millions of people whose salvation has been assured. “But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.” It would have repulsed Peter to so eat.
“And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” The commandment here seems contradictory to Peter, yet, whatsoever God commands, we must obey even if we do not fully understand. Should we look down on a brother or sister in Christ for reasons based on station or education, we would also be in danger of displeasing God for whatsoever He has received, we must also receive.
It seems that poor Peter is so hard-headed that all must be repeated to him thrice! Christ told Peter that he would deny Him thrice before the crowing of the cock, and then Christ (to open Peter’s eyes) asked him “Lovest thou me more than these?” thrice. Now the voice is the vision is repeated thrice. “This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”
“Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.” Please note the timing as suggested earlier. As soon as the vision had been completed, the very objects thereof stood at Peter’s gate. And what was the object of the vision? That Cornelius and his household, representative of the Gentile peoples, were declared clean and worthy of heaven. Peter would not grasp the full meaning until a bit later as the situation fully develops.
“While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.” Not only was the command of the vision repeated thrice to Peter, but now three men await him at his gate. “These men are now strangers to you, but they are not strangers to me,” God seems to say to Peter. Do not doubt or mistrust. God has sent them. However God acts, or in whatsoever thing he says, do not doubt but follow.
There are times when God sends us on missions whose object is completely unknown to us and may even appear unreasonable; however, as good soldiers, we must obey orders from the higher command that knows the details. “Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?” Peter does not now know the cause, but he shall soon learn of it.
“And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.” This may have not made a lot of sense to Peter since a Roman Centurion would, necessarily, be a Gentile. He nevertheless believes there is some connection between the vision and his guests. He does not rush away as is his natural trait, but lodges these men on plans to depart on the morrow.
“Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.” Though Peter did not know these men, God had instructed him to doubt nothing and go with them. Peter would obey as he always had done once his hunger was satisfied by the Galilean Waters.
It may be that you are in prayer for a Godly desire and are awaiting the answer. And it may also be true that God is preparing your heart for the answer and preparing another means for its complete solution in a fellow Christian whom you have never met nor of whom you have ever heard. Doubt nothing, but follow the Word of the Lord.