Title The Family of Faith/Acts 10:1~10
Contents Family of Faith/Acts 10:1~10, 22~35
May is Family Month. Humans start at home. So, the basic unit of society is the family. The first community God created is the family. You valued this family and entrusted you with love and happiness. According to the Supreme Prosecutor's Office data, 1,496 people were arrested last year for adultery cases such as murder, assault, threat, imprisonment, etc. The destruction of the family leads to the destruction of society. That is why Satan sets the family as an attack target. We see that the big problems in our daily life are always related to the family.
Today, through Cornelius's family introduced in the text, we will find the ideal and blessed family. Cornelius was an officer in the Roman legions. The content of the text is that one day he invited Peter to his house, worshiped with him, and while listening to the word, he received grace.
1. It was a family that always prayed.
Verse 2 says, “He was a devout man, fearing God with all his household, giving many alms to the people, and praying constantly to God.” This shows that he had a good prayer life, but he also had a good life in general. The characteristic of Cornelius' prayer life is that prayer and life coincide. The most desirable life of faith is when prayer and life coincide, and there is no separation between faith and life. Even if he prays for three hours a day, prays all night, and prays every morning, if his life is ungodly or if he is criticized and pointed at by his neighbors, then his prayer life is definitely wrong. Faith is a holistic event. In other words, just because you're good at one thing doesn't mean that your faith is good or good.
If a Sunday School teacher is zealous, but does not evangelize or tithe, he is neither a good teacher nor a Christian. He is a choir member for 52 weeks a year, but he does not attend evening services, early morning prayers, or all-night prayers. If that is the case, then he is also not a person who is worthy of praise because he is not a believer.
Cornelius was devout, and his whole family believed in God, and he saved the people of Judah. So he was praised and recognized. His prayer life was deeply connected with real life. If your prayers are fluent, your life should also be exemplary.
Also Cornelius is a public figure. He was an officer in the Roman legion that ruled Judea. At that time, the corps headquarters was in Caesarea. There is no word on how he came to believe in Jesus, but it is presumed that he came to believe in Jesus by visiting his house or through people he knew. There are people who believe in Jesus for 10 to 20 years but do not have a prayer life, but Cornelius always worked hard in his prayer life even though he had a short life of faith.
Everyone! If you say you are doing church service without praying in the morning, not praying all night, or without a set prayer time, it is no different than saying that you are running the machine without oil. In other words, it means going to work after praying, opening the store door after praying, starting housekeeping after praying, and meeting people after praying. May you all pray and receive grace like Cornelius.
2. It was a family that immediately obeyed.
In verses 7-8, after receiving a revelation from God to ask for Peter, he immediately sent a man to Joppa. The secret to being blessed is simple. Like Cornelius, when God says, “Ask for Peter,” you just have to obey immediately. There were several obstacles that made it difficult for Cornelius to ask Peter.
The first is the issue of identity. Cornelius was a Roman, while Peter was a Jew. At that time, Rome had a sense of superiority because it was ruling the Jewish nation, and the Jews had a sense of resistance.
The second is a professional issue. Cornelius is a high-ranking officer in the Roman legion, while Peter is a Galilean fisherman.
Third is the issue of education level. Cornelius had undergone regular military training to become an officer, and Peter had no worldly education. Regardless of these conditions, God commanded Cornelius to ask for Peter. He just obeyed. Without delay, they immediately sent the people to Joppa.
Disobedience is Satan's work that began in Genesis. Disobedience hinders grace. Disobedience robs us of prayer. Disobedience robs the heart of peace. However, if you obey, you will receive grace, blessings, answers, and everything will prosper.
In 1 Samuel 15:20-26, the decisive reason why King Saul was rejected by God is described. That was disobedience. He behaved, behaved, rebelled, and was rejected. In 2 Kings 18:11-12, the reason why the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed and captured by the Assyrian invasion is explained. It was because, in a word, he did not keep his word, and betrayed and disobeyed his promise.
In John 2, at a wedding feast in Cana, wine ran out. After Jesus' mother, Mary, told Jesus about it, he told the servants: “Whatever he says to you, do it” (John 2:5). ‘Do it as it is’ is important. Only when it is as it is, problems will be resolved and blessings will come.
When you learn judo, the first thing you learn is how to catch, and then how to fall, that is, how to fall. When I learned judo, I thought of throwing my opponent 3 or 5 meters forward at once. But it was an illusion and a misunderstanding. If you don't do what you're told, you're bound to fall 5 meters ahead.
Everything in the world is like that. Do what you are told, do what you are told, do what you are taught. If you do what the Bible teaches you about your life of faith, and what the church teaches you to do, there is nothing to lose and nothing to fall out of. Obedience is a greater act than sacrifice. Cornelius obeyed immediately and received a great deal of grace that day.
3. It was a family where they gathered and waited and longed for the Word.
Verse 24 says, “The next day, when he entered Caesarea, Cornelius gathered his family and close friends and waited for them.” Cornelius was not alone in waiting for Peter. He gathered and waited with his former family and friends. Here we can find the attitude of longing for his grace. The attitude and preparation for waiting for guests speaks to the family style and dignity of the family. Cornelius wanted his family and friends to receive grace through Peter's visit. So I gathered my family and friends and waited.
In the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, the decisive reason why only five virgins met the bridegroom was their preparation and attitude of waiting. All ten were virgins and were waiting for the bridegroom to come. However, only five virgins prepared oil, so they could meet the bridegroom. Those who prepare and wait will receive grace. We prepare and wait for this crusade, but those who bring their family and friends will receive grace.
4. It was a humble family.
Verse 25 says, “Just as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet and worshiped him.” Roman officers bowed down at their feet only in the following cases: To the emperor, to the boss, to their god. Who is Peter? Not an emperor, not a boss, not a god. They are just the religious leaders of the Jewish nation they rule. And his strength is nothing but a fisherman in Galilee. Is that all? Peter had never received a systematic education. He is a subordinate, a native of the poor, and ignorant. But Cornelius fell down and bowed down.
We see the true nature of Cornelius' personality in this passage. The worst obstacle to faith and blessing is pride. Pride turned angels into demons. Pride dropped angels from heaven to earth and to hell.
Trust me that when I humble myself, the Lord exalts me and has mercy on me. God loves individuals as well as families. If heaven is a precious place for us to go to, shouldn't all the loved ones in your family go together? It is important that Cornelius' family was saved, but it is also that the Gentile missionary work started from that family. It has become a channel that shines the beautiful light that spread the gospel to Rome and to the world.