27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 10 01-08 THE LORD REACHES CORNELIUS 02 Acts 10 01-02 Fear of God
📖 Acts 10:01-08
02 – Sun23Jun2024 – *Fear of God* - _Acts 10:01-08_ – THE LORD REACHES CORNELIUS – _Genesis 22:12_
_Acts 10:1-2 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._
Cornelius was a devout man. Devotion is about being ardently dedicated and loyal. This quality in him of being dedicated and loyal was special before God. Dedication and loyalty are rare values in people.
*As Christians, we must be known to be dedicated and loyal, wherever we are.* This is non-negotiable. *Are you loyal and dedicated to your family, church and organisation, where you serve?* _Colossians 3:22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, *not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God*._
Since we see apathy and pretence so common in our circles, we too tend to become slack. If we do not demonstrate loyalty and dedication in our lives, how can we raise our children to be devoted? We are living in a culture that is half-hearted and unconcerned. We know where the decay started. It began with parents who were not devoted.
We see that Cornelius influenced his family towards God. How did this happen? It took place because Cornelius was a devoted man and his family followed him.
*A person who is dedicated and loyal will not be popular in society.* Are we seeking popularity or are we seeking to be devoted?
As the church, we must know that only when we are devoted that we will be His witnesses. _I Thessalonians 2:4-5 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. (5) For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness._
Devotion is a trait that is visible to people but fear of God is internal, which only God can see. Cornelius was devoted and he feared God with all his household. As I said yesterday, *Cornelius is setting an example to the church*. We ought to be ashamed for we lack the virtues that are seen in Cornelius.*
There is no partiality with God. We have seen that the Lord will reveal Himself as the Lord of all to the one who fears Him. The Lord sees the heart of the individual and knows if there is fear of God in that person. Cornelius feared God.
Since Cornelius feared God, he worked righteousness. _Acts 10:35 But in every nation *whoever fears Him and works righteousness* is accepted by Him._
God’s ways are not unknown to mankind. _Romans 1:18-19 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19) because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them._
Men suppress the truth in unrighteousness because men do not want to face the truth. People love darkness rather than light. _John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed._
Fearing God and working righteousness is a state before evangelism and for people crossing over from death to life in Christ. _Acts 13:26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and *those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent*._
This is the reason, I said yesterday, we must pray that our nations will fear God. This should be the prayer of the church for our nations. We have seen that when we as the church prayed for our nations, how miraculously the Lord turned things around. We must press forward in this battle against our enemy and bring the fear of God into our nations. *When our nations fear God, then they are ready to receive the Gospel.*
This is the prayer that Solomon prayed as he dedicated the temple. This is the prayer that God will answer. _I Kings 8:43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, *that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You*, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name._
The Lord desires that nations will fear Him. _Psalms 102:15 So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth Your glory._
This begins with us, the church. We must walk in the fear of the Lord and we must pray that our nations will also fear God.
What does it mean for us, the church, to fear God?
_Genesis 22:12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for *now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me*."_ Fearing God for us is to have God as our ‘first love’.
Is God your first love? God will test us, as He did Abraham, to make us come to the place of fearing Him. ```Are we open for His correction to teach us to fear Him?```