The Ministry of the Spirit of God with the Word of God. Pt 15

Good evening.

Tonight, we will wrap up this series on the ministry of God's Spirit with the wonderful word of God. There is more that could be added but I think that I have provided you with enough detail into this vast and blessed subject. I certainly encourage you to keep your eyes open as you read the Bible and be looking for those places where the Holy Spirit of God is doing something in someones heart. 

We turn to another notable in the ministry of the apostle Peter. He was in the city of Joppa on the seashore. A Roman solider named Cornelius was several miles away in the city of Caesarea. 

A God fearing soldier and an angel appearing to him in  a vision. 

We learn that this centurion was a devout man who feared God and always prayed to Him . God was going to intervene in the centurions life in a major way. Cornelius saw a vision of an angel from God and the angel told him that God heard his prayers. 

Cornelius was instructed to send men to Joppa to find Peter and ask him to come to Caesarea. 

Acts 10:1-8 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 
And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

The most startling aspect of this narrative is that Peter was a Jew and Cornelius was a Gentile. The Jews would not have interaction with Gentiles. 

Peter also saw a vision where a sheet containing unclean animals was dropped down from heaven, and Peter was told to rise up, kill and eat. This happened three times. 

Peter's reply was that he had never eaten any animals that were unclean according to the law. However, God was not teaching Peter about unclean animals. He was helping Peter understand that the very people Peter thought were spiritually unclean, were going to receive the same salvation from God. 

Peter obeys and when the messengers from Cornelius come to his residence, the Spirit of God told him to go with them. We will pick up some of Peter's sermon to the entire household of Cornelius. 

Peter tells them about repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. He tells them that the prophets bore witness of Christ and that whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. That message would have been totally unlike anything they heard in pagan temples.

What happened next? The household of Cornelius believed and received the Spirit of God, and spoke in tongues just like the apostles did on the day of Pentecost. The purpose of Peter being sent to Cornelius is that Gentiles are also going to be saved and enter the kingdom of God. 

Acts 10:42-45 Acts 10:42-45 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

"Fell" is a word that means to embrace (with affection) or seize (with more or less violence; fall into, lie on, press upon. He fell upon those who were eager to hear the word of God. 

The question we need to ask is this: Is my heart eager and ready to hear from God?

Next, we go to a Gentile church in a city called Thessalonica in Asia. The gospel was brought to these people by the apostle Paul and they responded to it with eagerness. 

Paul tells us that their salvation was accomplished in the Word, and power and the Holy Ghost. They received the word and suffered for their conversion, but they also experienced the joy of the Holy Ghost flowing into their hearts.  

1 Thessalonians 1:5-7 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

The question we need to ask is this: Is my heart filled with the joy and peace of the

Holy Spirit? 

Next, we briefly return to the book of Acts to see two high officials respond indifferently to the preaching of God's word. They ignored the ministry of the Spirit of God.

Paul was a prisoner and he had many opportunities to share the gospel with many people. In this text, Paul spoke to the governor, Felix and his wife, Drusilla. Just as Jesus said the Spirit of God would convict men of righteousness, temperance and judgment, so Paul preached on those very subjects. 

Felix had two reactions to hearing the truth. First, he trembled. He was afraid and filled with fear at the prospect that he is a sinner under the condemnation of Holy God. 

Second, Felix put off making a decision to exercise repentant faith in Christ. He told Paul that when he had a more convenient time, he would be ready to listen. However, none of us are guaranteed any additional days, other than the one God has given us, right here and right now. 

Acts 24:24-25 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 

The second example also involves Paul witnessing to an important government official, in this case, King Agrippa. Paul pressed the king on the truth that he shared about Jesus Christ, and implored Agrippa to consider his claims because he had good understanding of Judaism.

Agrippa's response? A somewhat sarcastic and indifferent attitude. In the Greek, Agrippa is essentially using sarcasm and telling Paul, "you are going to have to do a whole lot more than this for me to become a believer."

Agrippa was like a lot of people are today. They often do not care. They are not interested in the eternal things of God but are focused on the mundane things of this life. 

Acts 26:27-28 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

The question we need to ask is this: Is my heart listening to the Spirit of God today?

We only have this moment of life before us. We must see the urgency of committing ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The life of a born again Christian is full of new beginnings, new songs, new joys, new learning and growth. Old patterns fall away. Old friendships dissolve and are replaced with new ones. A new allegiance to the God of glory replaces the old allegiance to the world. 

My hope and prayers for all of you, is that you come to full repentance for sin and turn to your only hope, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Bob