Complete Sermon Notes
Deception is real: example of living in deception at the hospital
ACTS 10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
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His character: loyal and devoted; reverent and had a giving heart.
3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
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A memorial is a reminder – he was no doubt seeking GOD.
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True prayer has feet.
5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do. 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
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Would Cornelius be saved if he was living in the O.T.?
Psalm 51:17 – My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Genesis 15:6 And [Abraham] believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
We must have BOTH – Belief and Sacrifice!
Do you BELIEVE? – Who paid the PRICE for you?
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God still speaks, BUT primarily through His word – cf. 2 Peter 1:3 – God has given us everything we need to know for living a godly life through His word and our relationship with Him.
Dr. Cho’s video of the Holy Spirit leading a man on a bike to his parents house to retrieve a Bible before the police arrived.
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Peter’s Vision 10:9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
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He was very hungry [famished]: whether it was a purposeful fast or not, the fact that the flesh was starved is something we should not overlook.
Cornelius was fasting – Scripture is clear that God speaks to us in more profound ways when we fast:
2 competing appetites: Try praying when the stomach is full – try anything…
WCF TESTIMONY: “Fasting has changed my life in an Amazing way and now I know exactly why it is so hard – it puts you in alignment with God and satan hates it … I used to have a temper with my family – getting upset with the stupidest little things, yelling over nothing – my family was suffering from it. I knew I needed to change. I heard caffeine played a huge role in mood swings. So I started fasting from soda. I found that I did not need it and my attitude improved. Then I fasted from coffee and cut out caffeine 100% and God really calmed my Spirit…Then I decided to fast for 2 days on water only, but that turned into 4 days. God really convicted me on the way I treat my family. How can I go to church and portray a Christ-like life, but yell at my wife and kids and have them fear me while at home. So I cried out to God to change my heart and He did. I felt a massive shift of His peace and love take over, and my anger is totally controllable. I’m not going to say it’s gone completely but God changed my heart through fasting…I’m so grateful for that.” JACK
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”
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God’s love for all people – you are made in God’s image!
Summoned to Caesarea 10:17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”
22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
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An “angel said” – angels are messengers not dispensers of truth.
Galatians 1:8 [NIV], “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!”
Jesus is not – Michael the Archangel nor is He brothers with Lucifer [spirit children]. (The Watchtower, 1979, p. 29; 1984, p. 29)
Peter Meets Cornelius 10:24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”
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We still worship men – Cam Newton, LeBron James, Mike Trout
Closing – 2 POINTS OF APPLICATION:
1. Salvation – You can be sincere, yet wrong: You can be good, but not good enough. You can “believe” that there is a God, but not know Him!
2. Know the Father know the Son – A Sincere Statement: “I believe in God, but I’m not so sure about Jesus.” You cannot separate the Father and the Son.
