27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 10 01-08 THE LORD REACHES CORNELIUS 04 Acts 10 01-02 Fearing God and working righteousness
📖 Acts 10:01-08
04 – Tue25Jun2024 – *Fearing God and working righteousness* - _Acts 10:01-08_ – THE LORD REACHES CORNELIUS – _Daniel 06:25-27_
_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*._
I have said that *the fear of God is the precursor for the evangelism of our nations*. The responsibility of the church is to bring the fear of God into our nations. We need to be men and women of God who will fear God and work righteousness. We know that Cornelius feared God and he worked righteousness. Here was a man who had not come to faith in Jesus but was an example to us.
We have all known of such people in our societies, cultures and nations, who did not openly confess faith in Jesus but they feared God and worked righteousness. They brought about fear of God in our nations and our nations enjoyed the benefits of a time of peace and development under their leadership.
We need to be those who fear God and work righteousness in our times. We also need to be those who are willing to pay the cost of being men and women of God’s fear and righteousness. The grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die and then it bears fruit. *We must be like that grain of wheat that is willing to fall into the ground and die, to bear fruit unto God.*
_John 12:24-25 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. (25) He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life._
Let us look at two examples.
_Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. (18) But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."_
These three Hebrew boys took a stand for which they had to pay with their lives. Where are the people of this calibre today? Why are we unwilling to take a stand for truth and pay the price? Why is it that this is not the model that we set for our children to follow, rather we tell them to be successful?
*Fearing God and working righteousness is primary. Being successful is secondary.* Is this the order we communicate to our children?
Now consider the impact of the stand of these boys. _Daniel 3:28-29 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and *yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!* (29) Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; *because there is no other God who can deliver like this*."_
The testimony of these boys led to the fear of God in the nations. When there is the fear of God in people, the Lord Jesus will reveal Himself to them as He did to Cornelius.
We know of Daniel and the den of lions. What was the outcome for a man who feared God and worked righteousness? It seemed the end was horrible and tragic but that was not to be. The Lord delivered Daniel from the mouth of the lions. _Daniel 6:21-22 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! (22) *My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths*, so that they have not hurt me, because *I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you*."_
Daniel’s life of fearing God and working righteousness resulted in the nations fearing God. _Daniel 6:25-27 Then *King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth*: Peace be multiplied to you. (26) *I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. (27) He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions*._
Friends, if only we make a decision that we will be men and women who fear God and work righteousness, we will see our nations fearing God. When the people of our nations fear God, He will reach out to them and reveal Himself to them. Cornelius is our example.
It is because we, the church, are living for our safety and protection, that we do not see our nations fearing God. We are accountable for our nations. ```We, in our generation, can see our nations turning to Christ, if we obey.```