Acts 10:1-19 PREPARATION OF THE SERVANT The way the Lord arranged for Peter to go Caesarea and open the door to the Gentiles through Cornelius, helps us to understand the fact that God is totally aware of every person and every need. In order for Peter to reach out to the Gentiles, God had first to reach out to him. The ancient prejudices that affected the Jews were such that there was no significant interchange between the cultures. The legalism of the Jews religion was a barrier that had to be removed so the mandate Christ gave could be fulfilled. Perhaps the implication of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ had never fully sunk in. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature..." was an all-inclusive commission that needed some God-given incentive.
When a person is by themselves and in contact with God, that is a place where God can speak to the soul. A seeking sinner wanting to know God can be assured God hears their prayer. When one is aware of the needs of others around them as well as their own need, the Holy Spirit has prepared fertile ground for the good seed of the word of God to fall on and bear fruit. Cornelius' sincerity was not questioned by the angel of God. Cornelius was already conscious of the Lord when in fear he asked, "What is it Lord?" The awakening was obviously a work of the Holy Spirit. The sincerity and reality of Cornelius' interest is a good example to us of the need in people we contact. We are not able in ourselves to judge the urgency and honesty of those we seek to reach with the Gospel, but we can take them at their word and present God's truth to them. The Spirit of God takes it from there and uses the Word as He see fit.
Communion with the Lord is the lifeline of fellowship with God on the part of Christians. In order to maintain this communion, time has to be taken to pray, read the word of God and meditate on what we read. Peter was in a position and condition where he could receive wisdom and guidance from God. He knew the value of prayer. During the years of his discipleship with the Lord, he would have often seen the Lord Jesus going to a private place to speak with His Father. In that place of fellowship, he was in the condition of soul for God to give him further understanding of the divine program for the church. Rather than speaking only with words, God used an illustration to drive home the point to Peter that Gentiles also have a place in the plans of God. If it had happened only once, Peter might have questioned it as only a dream of some kind. Each time the vision began with heaven opened and came down to earth to convince him of the divine origin of the lesson. The fact that it was repeated three times added the sense of authority and testimony to the vision.
From time to time in life there are issues that arise in our service for God that we may not know at the moment what to do about it. It is a mistake if we dismiss some of these impressions or incidents out of hand. When we are enjoying fellowship and communion with God, He uses a variety of means to enforce the teaching of scripture that assures us of the activities He intends for us to address. We may not realize for some time that we are being prepared by God for something we had never thought about or even prayed about. Communion with God in prayer and in our devotional life puts us in a condition of soul where we are open to God's leading and then assures us of His will. It may only take one incident in the future to clarify the reason for the lesson.
Preparation of soul and spirit - yes, and even the body, opens the way for opportunities for God to use us. When we are available, the Lord can give us understanding that we never had before. A person yielded to the Lord and actually gladly submitting to the Lordship of Christ, can be led by the Spirit to the exact place and person who is the object of God's attention. An unexpected visitation from God to a seeking sinner, and an unexpected visitation from God to an earnest believer opened the door of blessing all across the world. And it all happened in the space of one week.
What is so important about those private times of prayer? Why, it is in those times God in marvelous grace draws near! Whether it be on a rooftop, in a room or other private place - The saint who loves the Lord comes to seek the Father's face.
Then in some distant place removed, another head is bowed. Genuine humility and a sincere heart is found, As one who knows within there is a need he cannot meet - And the heart of God is moved the seeking sinner there to greet.
By holy initiative the actions of divine grace Move those two from different paths of life to meet face to face. The common link between the two is holy preparation Done by in each one's heart by the God of our salvation.
One comes with burdened heart seeking peace unto his soul. The other comes with assurance that God brought him there to show The way of salvation clearly so the hearers on Christ will believe - And then the grace of God leads the seeker Jesus to receive.
Things may be hidden from us when strange events come to pass. It isn't always we get an answer to every question we ask. So it is wise for us to wait for God in His own good time - To remove the questions we have, and reveal to us His mind.
Faith on the part of a sinner leads him to the One who saves. Faith on the part of the Christian reminds us of what the Savior gave To redeem and cleanse from sin, and this he tells to others - That beyond man-made barriers, we become sisters and brothers.
"Father of mercy and God of all grace: what an encouragement it is to know there are those who are seeking Thee although unknown to me. I pray I will be in close enough fellowship with Thee to be ready for Thee to use in bringing them the Gospel. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."