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Cornelius, A True Beliver

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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.
[Acts10:4]

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At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius.

He was a devout, God-fearing man, who prayed regularly. He was a centurion in Rome.

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Do you know what centurions do? A centurion was a leader of about 100 soldiers such as a company commander in the army.

At that time, Rome sent military and controlled Judah.

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A centurion, by the name of Cornelius, served God sincerely.

He always prayed to God for direction in his life.

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Furthermore, he helped to have all of his family members believe God

and they had become passionate servers of God.

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He always tried to obey God’s word. 

Also, he gave generously to those in need and helped people in difficulty.

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Thus, God was so happy to look upon Cornelius.

One day something happened as Cornelius was praying to God as was his normal habit.

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About 3 in the afternoon, something unfolded. He had a vision.

He distinctively saw an angel of God who came to him.

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“Cornelius!” the angel called him. Cornelius stared at him in fear

and he asked. “What is it, Lord?”

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The angel replied, “Your attitude to obey has been sincere as God desires. Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”

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Even though Cornelius was not Jewish, God was pleased by his sincerity

and faithfulness to God and to people in need.

Cornelius was so happy to hear this saying.

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The angel spoke to him again,

“Send men to bring back a man named Peter to your home.

He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea in Joppa.”

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When the angel, who had spoken to him, had gone,

Cornelius was very joyful and he was deeply moved by all the things

God had spoken to him.

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Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier

and he told them everything that had happened.

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Then he said, “Go to Joppa and find a home of Simon the tanner.

There will be an apostle named Peter.

Tell him everything about my vision and bring him back soon.

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Cornelius obeyed all the things that the angel had said to him and he was very happy to send men to Joppa. He was very thankful that God had been pleased by what he had been doing. Accordingly, he was also so excited to meet the well-known apostle Peter.

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Ladies and gentlemen, God knows everything about what we do and where we go including the little details. When you help somebody, God remembers all the things that you do. Also, when you pray, God hears everything even in a small voice. Thus, as we see Cornelius, I want to suggest to you to pray more and help the needy. Then, you will be a sincere and faithful one who can be glorified by God.