Acts10,1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 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! 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. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea. 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. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Their was a Centurion.
he and his Family were devoted & God-fearing:
> Giving generously
> Praying regularly
Am i God fearing > am i giving generously? - i feel bad about my giving
Am i God fearing > Do i pray regularly? - Praying - need to repent here as well
the vision:
Clearly seeing an Angle of GOD!
The Angle know Cornelius!
Cornelius stares at him - in fear! But stares.... I like this - this pagan Man has different reaction on seeing God, but the same feeling. But he just stares at him! I would like to be a God-starer...
The angel answered, Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. > God knows what i do - God sees what i am not doing and giving....
The Angle needs to let Cornelius know about a man Simon, called Peter!
Peter is not that well known! >  this is interesting. Even Peter was so powerful in miracles and speech; moved ones 3000 at once to be baptized. Peter is not all known! Joppe and Caesarea are not fa from each other. Cornelius does not know, that Peter is near... But God wants to reach Cornelius. So God makes Peter known to Cornelius. It is not the preacher who is important but the man who needs to be saved. God uses the preacher to save one of his! I am not important. It is all about the message! Do i preach the message in a right, clear and godly way?
After the vision:
Cornelius tells his men every thing what happened and sends them away to Simon Peter!
Cornelius is sharing his vision - he is not afraid to look stupid in front of his servants... He is a great man! > Cornelius loved GOD more then men.
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Want to change how i am giving and praying. I would like to stare at God, even i am in fear! What i am doing i can not hide. God knows it anyway. ... IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MESSAGE - NOT ABOUT ME. DO I BRING THE MESSAGE ACROSS? IN A RIGHT WAY, CLEAR AND GODLY? for this i need to pray and live it.
Talk with my wife about our giving and about our prayer life!