WEBVTT

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 Take your Bibles this morning, turn over to Acts chapter 10. Acts chapter 10 this morning,

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! As we've been over in John 15 for a few weeks, we're going to move over to Acts chapter 10 this morning.

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 And spend the next couple of weeks, Lord willing, here looking at some things here from Acts chapter 10.

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 Because I think it's important, the things we're going to be looking at here.

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 But the thing about this, let me ask you a question.

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 How many know somebody that fits this description?

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 They pay their bills, they keep their word, they love their family, and try to do right by everyone around them.

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 How many people know somebody like that?

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 You know?

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 And when people talk about them, what do they say?

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 Well, that's what? A good person.

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 But you know, I want you to understand, we're going to look here in Acts chapter 10 this morning.

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 Because being a good person, doing the right things, doesn't get you to heaven.

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 And we're going to find here in Acts chapter 10, because that idea brought forth,

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 because oftentimes the measurement we use is wrong.

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 You know, I've been around many times when people have passed away,

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 and you'll hear them say, well, there's a good person.

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 You know, this is what they did.

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 You know, really, as a believer, it ought to put something up in our mind,

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 because if you're going to heaven because of what you did, there's a problem.

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 Because getting to heaven has nothing to do about you.

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 It has what you have done with what Jesus did.

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 And that's going to be the essential element we're going to look here this morning,

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 because we're going to meet a man who checked all the boxes,

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 but still needed something he didn't have.

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 The man we're going to look at this morning is by the name of Cornelius,

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 and he was a centurion.

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 He was a Roman.

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 Matter of fact, the Bible's going to tell us he was Italian,

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 which makes things rather interesting as you read through this account,

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 to find out who this man was and what he was doing.

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 But he did all these things, and he asked a question,

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 what ought I to do?

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 That's an important question.

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 What ought I to do?

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 And what he was asking a question in regards to God and what God was doing.

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 And so if you found Acts chapter 10 this morning,

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 let's stand together in honor of the reading of the Word of God,

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 and we'll read down here the first eight verses of this chapter.

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 We'll cover the chapter as we go through here in the next couple of weeks,

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 but let's just set the stage here.

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 It tells us here in verse 1, it says,

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 There was a certain man of Caesarea called Cornelius,

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 a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

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 a devout man, one that feared God with all his house,

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 and he gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always.

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 And he saw a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day,

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 an angel of God coming into him and saying unto him,

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 Cornelius.

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 And he looked on him, and he was afraid and said,

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 What is it, Lord?

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 And he said unto him,

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 Thy prayer and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

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 Now send men to Joppa and call for one Simon,

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 whose surname is Peter.

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 He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside,

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 and he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

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 And when the angel which had spoken unto Cornelius was departed,

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 he called two of his household servants,

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 and a devote soldier of them that waited on him continually.

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 And when he had declared all these things unto them,

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 he sent them to Joppa.

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 So let's pray.

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 Heavenly Fathers, we just come before you this morning.

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 Lord, we're just thankful for your word.

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 Lord, we're thankful what we're going to learn here in Acts chapter 10.

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 Lord, what we learn about what we ought to do.

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 Lord, both to be saved and even after we're saved,

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 as we're going to look at these things here.

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 And Lord, we pray that you'd challenge, encourage, convict.

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 Lord, you know the need of each one here today.

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 Lord, if there's one here that doesn't know you as Savior

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 and understand the reality of it,

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 but that it's not just a mental thing or an acknowledgement of you,

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 but it's an acknowledgement of our sin and what you provided for us.

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 And Lord, we pray that you'd just stir hearts today,

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 Lord, that we might never forget what great sacrifice you made for us.

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 And Lord, we just thank you and praise you in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 You may be seated.

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 You know, as we come to Acts chapter 10,

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 it's been about 10 years since Pentecost.

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 You know, I always find it important when you're reading the scriptures,

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 try to figure out the timeframes.

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 You know, how long has something been going and it makes a difference?

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 I mean, what's the timeframe between things?

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 And that helps us understand the context

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 and the dynamic of what's been happening.

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 And we know that the early churches had grown and made great strides in reaching a lot of people.

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 You know, there were 3,000 saved on the day of Pentecost there in Acts chapter 2.

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 You know, not long after that, there was 5,000 men saved in Acts chapter 4.

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 We know that by Acts 9, there was a church established in Damascus.

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 You know, you think about the spread and the dynamic of believers going forth

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 and talking about what Jesus Christ had done for others.

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 We know that these different elements had come to pass and things were going great.

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 I mean, you talk about a church growth program.

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 In 10 years, they had tens of thousands of people reached.

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 But we find here nobody had reached Cornelius.

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 Nobody had reached him with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 And we're going to see here that they were doing a great job,

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 but they still had not fulfilled the things that they had been commanded to do.

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 They'd done a good job in reaching people, mainly Jews,

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 but not the Gentiles that also needed the gospel.

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 I mean, you think about what did Jesus, his last instructions to his disciples were pretty simple.

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 Think about Mark 16, 15, where he tells them this,

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 Go ye into all the world and what?

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 Preach the gospel to every creature.

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 He tells them in Acts 1, in verse 8, he says,

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 Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is upon you,

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 and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and Judea and in Samaria and into the uttermost part of the earth.

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 Now, I want you to understand that the uttermost part of the earth was the part they stumbled with.

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 And we're going to look next week a little bit about Peter,

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 because I think even today sometimes we stumble over the same things that Peter stumbled with

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 and struggled with,

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 because it has to do with how we think about others.

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 You know, I want you to know the importance of that,

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 because this included the Gentiles,

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 and the Gentiles had been being overlooked,

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 but the good news is that God had not forgotten his commandment and his instruction

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 that everybody needs to know.

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 God said that had not changed.

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 And this morning we find a Gentile that's desiring to be right with God,

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 yet lacking something in understanding.

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 You know, look over there back in verse 6 where we read in our text.

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 Notice what it tells us there.

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 At the end it says,

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 and he says to send for Simon,

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 or send for Peter who is in one Simon a tanner's house by the seaside,

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 and he said,

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 He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

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 In other words, he says,

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 call for Peter.

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 Peter knows what you need to know.

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 Peter knows what you're seeking for.

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 Peter knows what you need.

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 Because I want to look here this morning,

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 because the thing about Cornelius,

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 he was moral but lost.

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 I mean, everything about Cornelius screamed on the outside.

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 He's an upstanding guy.

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 He was moral.

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 He was a man that people wanted to be around.

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 You know, we find in verse 1 his position a little bit here.

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 He says he commanded a detachment of Romans deployed from Italy.

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 They were Romans.

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 You know, he was likely one by birth,

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 and most likely he had been taught about the Romans,

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 gods,

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 and everything about their polytheistic worship.

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 You know, we live in a society today that's the same as the Romans were of that day.

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 They're very polytheistic.

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 You say, preacher, what do you mean?

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 Well, when a Christian,

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 somebody who professes to know Christ says,

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 well, karma did that,

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 you know what they're doing?

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 They're being polytheistic.

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 Because we've incorporated pagan thought into Christian ideas.

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 Polytheistic.

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 I mean, I could go on to the examples.

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 But you know what?

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 Cornelius grew up in a polytheistic society.

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 Worship your gods.

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 You know, he makes it clear he was a good soldier.

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 He was a good man.

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 He was a person that can be very moral.

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 As a matter of fact, it tells us he was quite religious.

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 It says he prayed.

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 You know, he did everything he ought to do in the humanly speaking.

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 But yet he still lacked something very important.

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 He still lacked what was required.

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 But it's interesting about Cornelius,

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 because somewhere along the way,

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 he became acquainted with the Lord God of heaven.

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 Somewhere along the way,

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 somebody had influenced him with the truth

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 that there is one God,

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 the God that created heaven and earth,

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 the God who everything is set in order,

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 the God he's going to one day be accountable to.

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 He understood those things.

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 He would have been exposed to the religion of the Jews.

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 He'd been exposed to Old Testament Judaism.

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 And we're going to see here this dynamic,

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 because look here at verse 2.

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 It starts out,

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 he was a devout man.

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 In other words,

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 he was a good man.

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 He was devout.

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 You know, this word devout means

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 yielding a solemn and reverential attention to God

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 in religious exercises,

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 particularly in prayer.

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 In other words,

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 he was very systematic in his worship of God.

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 Or should I say his attempted worship of God.

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 He was very plain in what he did.

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 He understood the importance of it.

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 He was a very religious individual.

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 You know, today,

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 there's many people that are religious.

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 They've made a decision.

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 They've recognized God,

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 the one of scriptures,

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 the one they ought to worship,

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 that they ought to pay attention to.

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 And they become very religious.

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 They do the ritualistic steps.

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 You know, they go through the ritual.

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 But he had made a decision

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 to worship the God of heaven.

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 And while you can be religious,

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 I want you to understand,

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 you can be lost and you can be wrong.

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 Because one thing you're going to find

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 is everybody is religious.

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 You know, it always amazes me

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 that an atheist says,

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 well, I'm not religious.

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 Well, yes, they are.

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 They practice, by definition, a religion.

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 Because religion has to do

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 with your belief system.

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 What do you believe

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 and how do you practice it?

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 What do you base it upon?

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 You know, that is a religious dynamic.

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 It's something that is set forth.

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 You can deny it.

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 You can say it doesn't happen.

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 But the reality is,

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 that's how it is.

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 You know, and for a Gentile of his day,

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 this meant the worship.

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 He had rejected this polytheistic worship

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 of many gods

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 and chose to worship the Lord God of heaven,

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 which stands in contrast

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 to the gods of the day.

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 You know, if you think about it,

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 as a Roman soldier,

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 he had been raised to honor

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 Roman gods like Mars,

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 the god of war,

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 and pay homage to the emperor himself

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 as a living god

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 through the imperial cult,

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 his own legion from Rome

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 would have sworn to.

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 You know, Cornelius made a choice

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 to walk away

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 from all those things

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 because he saw something

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 in the reality of who God is.

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 He understood there was a God

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 that he was going to be held accountable to.

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 And we see many today

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 that are far worse off

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 than Cornelius,

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 and they're still bound up

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 in the same false worship,

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 a culture that is obsessed

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 with immorality

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 and fornication

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 and the exploitation

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 of the vulnerable

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 that comes with it.

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 I mean,

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 we see that happening

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 all around us today.

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 In America,

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 we have a lot of people

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 who were like Cornelius

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 when he started,

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 but the problem is,

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 we have a lot of people

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 who moved from where Cornelius

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 started his life

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 to just being religious.

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 I want you to understand

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 religion does not get you to heaven.

00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:08.199
 Religion does not remove your sin.

00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:10.719
 Cornelius had the right idea

00:14:10.719 --> 00:14:11.899
 and the right concept.

00:14:12.459 --> 00:14:14.379
 He was working with the information

00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:15.519
 that he had,

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:16.980
 but there was a problem.

00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:19.419
 We know that he had turned away

00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:21.500
 from all those other gods.

00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:23.120
 He was a devout man

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.139
 who knew God,

00:14:24.439 --> 00:14:26.399
 said not to worship anything

00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.799
 or anyone but him.

00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:28.860
 You know,

00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:29.419
 you think about it,

00:14:29.419 --> 00:14:32.120
 he'd probably been addressed sometime

00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:33.759
 with like Exodus chapter 20

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.919
 where it tells us,

00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:36.219
 thou shalt have no other gods

00:14:36.219 --> 00:14:36.939
 before me.

00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:38.099
 Thou shalt not make

00:14:38.099 --> 00:14:39.519
 into thee any graven image

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.360
 or any likeness

00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:41.959
 of anything that is in heaven above

00:14:41.959 --> 00:14:43.659
 or is that in the earth beneath

00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.980
 or that is in the water

00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:45.799
 under the earth.

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:47.719
 Thou shalt not bow thyself

00:14:47.719 --> 00:14:48.659
 down to them

00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:50.159
 nor serve them.

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:50.879
 For I,

00:14:50.959 --> 00:14:51.879
 the Lord thy God,

00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:53.059
 am a jealous God,

00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.319
 visiting the iniquity

00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:54.980
 of the fathers

00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.719
 upon the children

00:14:55.719 --> 00:14:56.419
 under the third

00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:57.399
 and fourth generation

00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:58.480
 of them that hate me.

00:14:58.799 --> 00:14:59.419
 I have a feeling

00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:01.019
 when Cornelius was confronted

00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:01.480
 with that,

00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:02.459
 he had to make a decision

00:15:02.459 --> 00:15:03.720
 because he had spent

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.840
 his life previous

00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:07.360
 to becoming religious

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:09.840
 or continuing changing

00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.519
 of religion

00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:12.980
 because changing religions

00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:13.919
 doesn't save you.

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:18.039
 But he knew who God was.

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:18.860
 You know,

00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:20.439
 very likely Cornelius

00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:20.860
 would have been

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:22.100
 what we find

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:25.159
 was a proselyte

00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:25.740
 of the gate.

00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:26.620
 In other words,

00:15:26.680 --> 00:15:27.820
 he was a Gentile

00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:28.440
 who understood

00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:29.399
 who God was.

00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:29.879
 Matter of fact,

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.139
 it would have been

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.860
 very likely

00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:32.779
 that he would have went

00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:33.879
 and stood outside

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.539
 the synagogue

00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:36.320
 to hear what was being said.

00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:37.879
 He wanted to learn

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.680
 about God,

00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:40.019
 but he hadn't taken

00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:40.560
 the steps

00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:41.500
 to become Jewish.

00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:42.080
 You know,

00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.180
 the Bible speaks

00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:44.419
 and gives hints

00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:45.159
 to individuals

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:47.180
 who were like Cornelius.

00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.639
 They recognized God,

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:51.080
 they stood outside the gate,

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.199
 they wanted to hear

00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:53.240
 what they could hear,

00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:53.879
 but you know what?

00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:54.539
 There was something

00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.279
 separating them.

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.720
 There was a separation

00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:02.120
 and we find here

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.179
 that he would come

00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:03.840
 to listen,

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.379
 but he wouldn't be allowed

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.220
 to associate

00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.879
 with the Jews.

00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:08.860
 They were kind of

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.720
 an outcast

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.860
 on the edge.

00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:11.279
 You know,

00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:12.319
 when we realize

00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:13.899
 that Cornelius

00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:14.980
 had to make a choice,

00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.639
 he chose

00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:19.480
 to worship God

00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.620
 even though others

00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:22.180
 almost made him

00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:22.820
 an outcast.

00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:23.039
 Like,

00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:23.560
 if you don't go

00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:24.279
 all the way

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.440
 and doing everything

00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.800
 that we want you to do

00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:27.980
 and go through

00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.960
 the religious things,

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:29.580
 you can't have

00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:30.920
 a relationship with God.

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:31.600
 You know,

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.519
 the Old Testament's

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.240
 filled with people

00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:34.220
 who feared God,

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.600
 who loved God,

00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:39.039
 but yet weren't Jewish.

00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.220
 You'll find them

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.060
 scattered throughout.

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.519
 They recognized

00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:46.000
 who God is

00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.399
 and what God had done,

00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.220
 but you know,

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.079
 the problem is today

00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:49.980
 we have a lot of people

00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.639
 that are oftentimes

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.199
 religious

00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:52.559
 and people who are

00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:53.459
 polytheistic.

00:16:53.959 --> 00:16:54.100
 You know,

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.019
 today in America,

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:55.679
 there are a lot of people

00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.799
 who worship many gods.

00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.899
 They come to church

00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.500
 on Sunday

00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.559
 and worship another god

00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:02.100
 on Monday.

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.299
 Even though you say,

00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:05.460
 well,

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:05.799
 they don't,

00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.079
 what do they bow down to?

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:07.339
 You know,

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:08.279
 some people bow down

00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:09.119
 to a bank balance.

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.099
 How much money

00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:12.759
 can I have in there?

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.519
 What am I worried about?

00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:13.779
 You know,

00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:14.619
 all these things.

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:16.239
 You know,

00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.019
 there's people today

00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:18.179
 worry about a credit score.

00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:18.399
 I mean,

00:17:18.699 --> 00:17:19.579
 think about the list

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.219
 of things

00:17:20.219 --> 00:17:22.079
 that you get advertised to.

00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:22.699
 That's what people

00:17:22.699 --> 00:17:23.659
 are being drawn to.

00:17:24.699 --> 00:17:25.979
 What's your portfolio

00:17:25.979 --> 00:17:26.799
 look like?

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:27.959
 You know,

00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.579
 buy gold now.

00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:31.839
 That's your security.

00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.599
 Now,

00:17:34.679 --> 00:17:35.739
 I want you to understand

00:17:35.739 --> 00:17:37.059
 of themselves,

00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:38.879
 it's not,

00:17:39.399 --> 00:17:40.459
 they're not the problem

00:17:40.459 --> 00:17:41.000
 themselves,

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.719
 it's the way people

00:17:41.719 --> 00:17:42.339
 treat them.

00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:44.119
 Because think about

00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:45.699
 what Jesus told

00:17:45.699 --> 00:17:46.759
 the disciples

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.939
 in Luke 16,

00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:48.399
 he says,

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.599
 no servant can serve

00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.319
 two masters

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.639
 for either he will

00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:52.459
 hate the one

00:17:52.459 --> 00:17:53.519
 and love the other

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.139
 or else he will

00:17:54.139 --> 00:17:54.879
 hold the one

00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:56.240
 and despise the other.

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:57.500
 He cannot serve God

00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.439
 and mammon.

00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.119
 That's money.

00:17:59.699 --> 00:17:59.899
 You know,

00:17:59.939 --> 00:18:00.699
 money can become

00:18:00.699 --> 00:18:01.579
 a god to people.

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:03.579
 You know,

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.099
 they'll do anything for it.

00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:05.699
 They'll lie,

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.399
 they'll cheat.

00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:07.039
 You know,

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:08.740
 today you find people

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:08.959
 that,

00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:09.480
 well,

00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:10.259
 I'm a believer

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:10.799
 but I'm going to

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.599
 bet my money

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.899
 on the sportsbook app

00:18:12.899 --> 00:18:14.579
 so I can get more of it.

00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:15.240
 You know,

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:16.099
 there's some people

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:17.639
 who check their bank app

00:18:17.639 --> 00:18:18.759
 and their crypto wallet

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.699
 more than they pray.

00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:21.279
 I want you to understand

00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.599
 there's people today

00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:23.699
 who spend their money

00:18:23.699 --> 00:18:25.419
 on wine and revelry.

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.599
 You know,

00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:28.539
 there was a Roman god

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.579
 for that called Bacchus.

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:31.139
 That's how they worshipped him

00:18:31.139 --> 00:18:32.399
 was wine and revelry.

00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.019
 Now,

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:33.719
 that's an old word,

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.179
 revelry,

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:36.000
 but today let's translate it.

00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.000
 That's called partying.

00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:38.980
 I'm going to go out

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.359
 and party.

00:18:39.419 --> 00:18:40.159
 I'm going to feel good.

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:43.259
 You know what they're saying?

00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:43.699
 They're being,

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.839
 want to worship

00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:49.359
 in a form contrary

00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.539
 to the things of God.

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.399
 Because a God

00:18:53.399 --> 00:18:53.879
 is something

00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:55.319
 we give priority to.

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:55.939
 You know,

00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.659
 many of us

00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:58.719
 have our financial priorities

00:18:58.719 --> 00:18:59.839
 all out of whack,

00:19:00.179 --> 00:19:00.480
 you know,

00:19:00.719 --> 00:19:02.199
 to name among many things.

00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:02.439
 I mean,

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:03.519
 you could talk about money,

00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:04.939
 you could talk about priorities,

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.099
 you could talk about

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:07.619
 all sorts of areas of life

00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:08.619
 where we're out of whack.

00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:09.719
 And we understand

00:19:09.719 --> 00:19:11.899
 that we need to put God first.

00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.459
 Now,

00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.299
 I want you to understand,

00:19:14.459 --> 00:19:15.679
 God doesn't mind us

00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:17.000
 having nice things

00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.159
 as long as we don't

00:19:18.159 --> 00:19:19.199
 put them ahead of him.

00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:20.859
 You know,

00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.319
 in America,

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:22.399
 we have more than most

00:19:22.399 --> 00:19:22.839
 of the world.

00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:24.500
 We have a nice building

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.239
 to come to

00:19:25.239 --> 00:19:26.159
 that thankfully

00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:27.259
 the air conditioning works.

00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.079
 You know,

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:30.859
 there's many places

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:31.479
 in the world

00:19:31.479 --> 00:19:33.259
 they're sitting on benches

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.079
 next to a tree

00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:35.099
 to hear the word of God.

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:36.559
 I wonder how many people,

00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.799
 if we had it out in the park

00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:39.339
 a couple of weeks ago

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:40.719
 when it was almost 100 degrees,

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.279
 how many people

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.039
 would have showed up?

00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:42.919
 Because we can put

00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:44.159
 our comfort above God.

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.659
 I want you to understand,

00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.459
 Cornelius,

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.719
 that's the way he began,

00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:49.000
 but he changed.

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.419
 He became very religious.

00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.879
 He was a devout man.

00:19:52.959 --> 00:19:53.759
 He had turned away

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.839
 from every idol

00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:56.539
 that the culture chased.

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.879
 He was a good moral man,

00:19:57.919 --> 00:19:58.759
 a religious man,

00:19:58.799 --> 00:19:59.519
 but the problem was

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.439
 he wasn't saved.

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.240
 Notice back in verse 2,

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.599
 not only was he a devout man,

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.159
 notice this,

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:06.120
 and one that feared God

00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:07.500
 with all his house.

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.140
 You know,

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:10.279
 Cornelius was a God-fearing man.

00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:11.840
 Proverbs tells us

00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:13.100
 that the fear of the Lord

00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:16.320
 isn't cowering towards God,

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:18.960
 but a reverence in awe

00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.140
 about God

00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.620
 and taking God seriously.

00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.240
 You know,

00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.560
 the fear of the Lord

00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:26.600
 is not fear

00:20:26.600 --> 00:20:29.740
 in the sense of trembling

00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:31.060
 because God's just going

00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:31.900
 to crush me.

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:34.500
 the fear of the Lord

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.240
 is understanding

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:37.080
 the awe of who God is,

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:40.220
 that he is an all-powerful,

00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:41.220
 all-knowing,

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:43.019
 all-present creator,

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:46.200
 that we ought to understand

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:48.460
 Cornelius feared God.

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.960
 But I want you to tell you,

00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.019
 fearing God

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.320
 is not going to get you

00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:52.680
 to heaven.

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.180
 It'll help

00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:57.040
 because it'll point you

00:20:57.040 --> 00:20:58.000
 in the right direction,

00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:00.480
 just like Cornelius,

00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:01.579
 but just fearing God.

00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:01.720
 Well,

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.400
 I fear God.

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.140
 That's not going to get you

00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:03.480
 to heaven.

00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:07.599
 Notice what Proverbs tells us.

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:09.119
 Proverbs 1 and verse 7

00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:10.299
 tells us this.

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:10.579
 It says,

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.720
 but the fear of the Lord

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:11.960
 is,

00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:12.559
 notice this,

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:15.640
 the beginning of knowledge,

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.859
 but fools despise wisdom

00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:19.099
 and instruction.

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.779
 Notice that it's what?

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.640
 The beginning.

00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:22.680
 It's not the end.

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.720
 Proverbs 9, 10,

00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.519
 the fear of the Lord

00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.779
 is the beginning of wisdom

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.100
 and the knowledge of the holy

00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:30.039
 is understanding.

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.940
 Proverbs 8, 13,

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:33.860
 the fear of the Lord

00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.839
 is to hate evil,

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:35.860
 pride and arrogance

00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:36.819
 in the evil way

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:38.380
 and the forward mouth

00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:39.180
 do I hate.

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:41.819
 You know what?

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.740
 All it tells us is Cornelius

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:45.059
 was a man who understand

00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:45.600
 there was going to be

00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.140
 accountability.

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:49.079
 Because the fear of the Lord

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.980
 helps us understand

00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:50.660
 there's a God

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.440
 you're going to answer to

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:51.839
 one day.

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:55.159
 We ought to live

00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:56.500
 in the fear of the Lord.

00:21:57.439 --> 00:21:58.839
 The fear of awe

00:21:58.839 --> 00:22:00.299
 of who He is.

00:22:00.899 --> 00:22:01.539
 But I want you

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.759
 to understand here

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:04.119
 that Cornelius

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:05.359
 was a moral individual

00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:07.000
 who ordered his life

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.000
 around the reality

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.319
 that God would one day

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:10.500
 judge his actions.

00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.079
 You know,

00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:13.799
 that might describe you today.

00:22:14.379 --> 00:22:15.319
 You live carefully

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.119
 because you know

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:17.639
 you'll answer to God someday.

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:19.399
 That's a healthy fear,

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.980
 but a healthy fear of God

00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:22.900
 will never save anyone.

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.920
 Cornelius feared God rightly

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:28.120
 and he still wasn't saved.

00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.240
 I want you to notice,

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.319
 look at the third thing

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.480
 that it tells us.

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.940
 And he gave much alms

00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.680
 to the people.

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.819
 You know what that tells us?

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:37.039
 He was a generous man.

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:40.000
 Cornelius was a generous man.

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.799
 He was willing to

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:42.339
 help those in need.

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.900
 He gave to charity.

00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:44.579
 You know,

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.559
 it's like people today,

00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.519
 I find things,

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:46.720
 you know,

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.500
 something comes up,

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:47.860
 well,

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.599
 somebody opened a GoFundMe,

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.319
 so I'm going to give them

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:50.819
 some money.

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.839
 Because it's going to

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.880
 make me feel good.

00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:53.940
 It amazes me

00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.440
 how many people

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.759
 jump on every need

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.640
 that somebody has

00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.519
 to give a little bit

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:58.980
 and they replace that,

00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.180
 you know,

00:22:59.319 --> 00:22:59.559
 well,

00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.180
 look at me,

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.180
 look at what I'm giving,

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.500
 you know,

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.740
 that should make me good.

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:06.240
 There's nothing wrong

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.279
 to giving to need,

00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:08.120
 but I want you to understand,

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.500
 giving to needs of others

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.519
 isn't going to save you.

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.059
 I want you to see this

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.259
 with Cornelius

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:15.059
 because today,

00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:15.680
 you know,

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.360
 as Americans,

00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:17.720
 we open our wallets

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.319
 in a moment

00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.679
 of anything happening,

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.279
 a hurricane

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.579
 or a wildfire

00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.460
 hits the news

00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:23.519
 and Americans

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.339
 are some of the most

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.779
 generous people on earth.

00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.019
 You know,

00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:27.059
 statistics show that

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.059
 as a general,

00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:29.059
 Americans are the most

00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.980
 generous people.

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:30.980
 But you know what?

00:23:31.179 --> 00:23:31.639
 Generosity

00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:32.519
 doesn't get you to heaven.

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:35.259
 Cornelius was a generous man.

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.899
 He was like that,

00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.200
 but he wasn't saved.

00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:38.659
 Yeah,

00:23:38.679 --> 00:23:39.519
 I want you to understand,

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.819
 you can't buy your way

00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.259
 to heaven.

00:23:43.919 --> 00:23:44.359
 Cornelius

00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:46.599
 was a good man.

00:23:46.699 --> 00:23:47.959
 He did those things.

00:23:48.479 --> 00:23:49.719
 He trusted God.

00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:50.919
 I want you to notice

00:23:50.919 --> 00:23:51.559
 something else.

00:23:51.659 --> 00:23:52.619
 It says that he prayed

00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.500
 to God always.

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:56.619
 He was a praying man.

00:23:58.659 --> 00:23:58.899
 You know,

00:23:58.919 --> 00:24:00.219
 I believe God listens

00:24:00.219 --> 00:24:01.479
 to sincere prayer

00:24:01.479 --> 00:24:03.019
 and He desires for you

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.699
 to know Him.

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:05.879
 You know,

00:24:05.919 --> 00:24:06.859
 Isaiah 55

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.859
 tells us this.

00:24:07.939 --> 00:24:08.219
 He says,

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.079
 Seek ye the Lord

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:10.099
 while you may be found.

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.759
 Call ye upon Him

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:13.279
 while He is near.

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.639
 Now,

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.539
 I want you to understand,

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:16.220
 the story of Cornelius,

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.299
 there is some uniqueness

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.240
 to it because of

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.180
 the early nature.

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.720
 Cornelius was operating

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.420
 in the information

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.059
 that he had.

00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:24.379
 But the information

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:25.680
 he had was not sufficient.

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.980
 He needed more.

00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.799
 He feared God.

00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:29.759
 He was a good man

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:31.099
 in everybody's eyes.

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.480
 He did what he ought to do.

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.240
 But he understood

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:36.619
 he was calling upon God

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.160
 and God was there.

00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:38.420
 You know,

00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.480
 Jeremiah 29

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.319
 verse 12

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.980
 says this,

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:43.240
 Then ye shall call upon me

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:44.059
 and ye shall go

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.839
 and pray unto me

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:46.099
 and I will hearken unto you

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:47.839
 and ye shall seek me

00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:49.079
 and find me

00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:50.460
 when you search for me

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:52.360
 with all your heart.

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:54.079
 That described Cornelius.

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.319
 He was devout.

00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:57.039
 He feared God.

00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:59.599
 He gave alms to the people.

00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:01.720
 He prayed to God always.

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.360
 But verse 3 and 4

00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:05.259
 reveals something.

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:08.539
 There was still something missing.

00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:12.599
 There's something he needed to know.

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:15.200
 Look at verse 3

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.660
 and he says,

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:17.099
 He saw a vision evidently

00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:18.440
 about the ninth hour of the day

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.240
 an angel of God

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.240
 coming into him

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.539
 and saying unto him,

00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:22.299
 Cornelius.

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.960
 And when he looked on him

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.779
 he was afraid

00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.259
 and said,

00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:26.119
 What is it, Lord?

00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:27.640
 And he said unto him,

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:29.039
 Thy prayers and thine alms

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.279
 are come up for a memorial

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:31.240
 before God.

00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.519
 You know what it tells us?

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.420
 That God paid attention to Cornelius

00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:36.740
 because I believe Cornelius

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:38.539
 was sincere in what he was doing.

00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:41.859
 But sincerity doesn't save you.

00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:44.500
 But him being sincere before God,

00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.720
 open before God,

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:46.460
 God said,

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.379
 I'm going to make a way

00:25:47.379 --> 00:25:48.500
 for you to know

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.980
 what you need to know.

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.180
 You know,

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.799
 it proves he wasn't saved.

00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:54.420
 His prayers were heard and answered.

00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:56.059
 I want you to understand

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.960
 that I believe God

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.359
 sometimes answers prayers

00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.079
 of the lost.

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.180
 You know what he's doing?

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.559
 He's saying,

00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:01.579
 Hey, I want you to know

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:03.460
 I am here.

00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:07.819
 I know who you are.

00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:08.319
 You know,

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.139
 I want you to understand

00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:10.500
 you can't say you're saved

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.940
 because you've had a prayer answered.

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.879
 Because it might just be

00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:15.940
 simply God did that

00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.720
 so you might know

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.460
 that he's real.

00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.539
 That he's true.

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.660
 That you need

00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:23.519
 to realize though

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.859
 you need to be born again

00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:26.339
 and ask him to save

00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:27.379
 your soul.

00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:30.180
 That's the most important prayer

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:31.200
 you can pray to God.

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.279
 God.

00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:34.259
 Because that's the only one

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:35.440
 that transforms you.

00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.759
 That changes you.

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:39.259
 That makes you new.

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:39.840
 You know,

00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:41.980
 God took note of Cornelius

00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:44.779
 not because just his good actions

00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:46.819
 because he was sincerely doing

00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:49.200
 the things that wanted to seek God.

00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:52.940
 Cornelius was doing

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.860
 with what he thought

00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:54.600
 he ought to do.

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.640
 And he was sincerely

00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.900
 seeking God

00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:59.319
 and God sent him

00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.900
 an answer.

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.500
 God took note

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.960
 the fearing God

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.400
 and that he was seeking Him.

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:07.299
 But let's be clear

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.279
 none of that

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.740
 could save Cornelius

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.259
 in spite of all his prayer

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.900
 he still wasn't saved.

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.200
 In spite of his devotion

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.559
 and generosity

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:17.019
 and respect for God

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:18.480
 and even his country

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.940
 he wasn't saved.

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.619
 Because look at verse 6.

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.299
 It says,

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:24.960
 And he lodged

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.299
 with one Simon a tanner

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.180
 whose house

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:28.019
 was by the seaside.

00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:28.700
 Now notice this.

00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.559
 He shall tell thee

00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.720
 what thou oughtest

00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:33.039
 to do.

00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:33.480
 You know,

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.839
 one thing I can reassure you

00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:35.819
 God will tell you

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.879
 how to be right with Him.

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:40.099
 If you're sincerely seeking

00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:40.420
 Lord,

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.960
 I need to be right with you

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:43.019
 you know what God's going to do?

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.700
 He's going to send somebody

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.940
 with the message

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.819
 of reality

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:48.319
 of what you need.

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:51.799
 God will do that.

00:27:51.879 --> 00:27:53.819
 He will send somebody

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.400
 unto you.

00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:56.440
 God will open your eyes

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:56.980
 to hear

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.960
 and to understand.

00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:01.460
 God honored him

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:03.440
 by sending him

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.859
 the light he needed

00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:05.859
 to be saved.

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.000
 How did he do that?

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.299
 He said,

00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.099
 Send for Peter.

00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:11.039
 Peter knows what you need.

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:13.779
 Peter knows

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.720
 what you're missing.

00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:17.480
 Peter has the answer.

00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:19.519
 Look over into chapter 10.

00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.659
 Look down in verse 42

00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.259
 for a moment.

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.559
 We'll talk about this

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.420
 a little more next week

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:24.420
 but I want you to see

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.440
 Peter's answer.

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.279
 When Peter finally gets

00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.339
 to Cornelius,

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.579
 he begins to preach

00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:32.399
 and he begins to tell him

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:34.180
 what was going on.

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.559
 It talks about the word

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.879
 which God did.

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:37.839
 That word,

00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:39.639
 verses 36 and 37.

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.859
 Now look down here

00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:41.719
 at verse 42.

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:44.699
 And notice what Peter says.

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.799
 And he commanded us

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:47.299
 to preach unto the people

00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:48.740
 and to testify.

00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:50.799
 It is he which was ordained

00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:52.039
 of God to be the judge

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.119
 of the quick and the dead

00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:54.639
 to give him all

00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:55.979
 the prophets witness

00:28:55.979 --> 00:28:57.779
 that through his name

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:59.339
 whosoever believeth in him

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:01.319
 shall receive remission

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.339
 of sins.

00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:03.599
 Now I want you to understand

00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.579
 your good works

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.319
 don't save you.

00:29:05.659 --> 00:29:06.939
 No matter how religious

00:29:06.939 --> 00:29:07.779
 you are,

00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.079
 it's not going to make

00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:09.619
 a difference.

00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:10.839
 You know when Jesus

00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:13.899
 was made a statement,

00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:17.460
 when people come to him

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:17.679
 and says,

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.539
 Lord look what I did

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.199
 in your name.

00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:21.839
 And they're all good deeds.

00:29:23.879 --> 00:29:25.099
 And Jesus looks at him

00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.399
 and says,

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.779
 depart from me

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:28.879
 ye worker of iniquity,

00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:29.919
 I never knew you.

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.220
 You know why that is?

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.919
 Because they never understood

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:36.759
 who Jesus truly is.

00:29:38.800 --> 00:29:41.060
 They needed not good works,

00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:42.940
 not reforming themselves,

00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:44.039
 they needed a savior.

00:29:44.600 --> 00:29:45.220
 You know today,

00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.279
 maybe you've assumed

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.100
 you were saved

00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:48.360
 because of what you did,

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.279
 your good intentions,

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.200
 your good works,

00:29:50.300 --> 00:29:52.080
 or just I have a good heart.

00:29:52.340 --> 00:29:53.820
 But today you realize

00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:54.740
 you haven't crossed

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.580
 the threshold

00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:57.519
 that's important to realize

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:59.200
 you cannot save yourself.

00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:01.539
 Only Jesus can save you.

00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.799
 Or maybe you're sitting

00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:04.019
 where Cornelius sat

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.740
 before Peter ever showed up.

00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.599
 Religious, moral,

00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:08.920
 and respected,

00:30:09.159 --> 00:30:10.279
 but quietly letting

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.920
 your religion stand in

00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:13.279
 for a real relationship

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.079
 with Christ.

00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:18.079
 Cornelius still had to hear,

00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:19.299
 he had to believe

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.680
 in order to be saved.

00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:23.240
 Going through the motions

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.619
 was never enough

00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:25.839
 to save him.

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.980
 It isn't enough

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.039
 for you or I either.

00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:31.259
 Religious activity

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.220
 saves nobody.

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.980
 And I want you to understand

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.539
 this morning

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.920
 as we look at Cornelius,

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.079
 it's an important thing

00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:38.460
 to grab a hold of.

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:41.339
 Because we need to ask ourselves,

00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:43.259
 do you believe

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:45.859
 in Jesus Christ

00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:48.659
 and what he did for you?

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:50.460
 To understand the importance

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:53.779
 of what Christ did for us.

00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:56.000
 That he was the very son of God,

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:57.559
 he came in the form of man,

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:59.000
 he paid the price

00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.779
 for something

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:01.259
 we could not pay ourselves,

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.919
 he took the penalty

00:31:02.919 --> 00:31:04.299
 of death upon him,

00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:05.940
 and he rose victorious

00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.839
 the third day.

00:31:07.139 --> 00:31:08.039
 When we understand

00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:09.740
 what's taking place here,

00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.779
 Cornelius heard

00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.980
 and understood

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:14.399
 for the first time

00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:16.659
 what the answer really was.

00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:18.059
 He had been waiting

00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:19.240
 for that answer

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:21.379
 instead of simply obeying

00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.500
 what God,

00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:24.460
 what he understood about God,

00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.619
 what he'd already been given,

00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:27.439
 he understood his need

00:31:27.439 --> 00:31:28.439
 to confess

00:31:28.439 --> 00:31:29.779
 that Jesus Christ

00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:31.279
 is the Savior.

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:34.519
 That it stands alone.

00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:35.939
 You know, today, sadly,

00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:37.199
 there's two forms

00:31:37.199 --> 00:31:40.099
 of the gospel

00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:41.259
 that I believe are false

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:43.739
 in core.

00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:46.979
 One is a magical prayer.

00:31:47.479 --> 00:31:48.019
 One, two, three,

00:31:48.099 --> 00:31:48.739
 repeat after me,

00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:49.399
 now you're good.

00:31:50.379 --> 00:31:51.639
 We've tapped you in.

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.019
 You know,

00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.799
 I want you to understand,

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.460
 if there's never been

00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.119
 a heart change,

00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.019
 there's no salvation.

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:58.220
 You can repeat mantras

00:31:58.220 --> 00:32:00.079
 and whatever you want to do.

00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.319
 You know,

00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:01.159
 a lot of people treat

00:32:01.159 --> 00:32:02.839
 the prayer of salvation,

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:03.919
 it's almost like a mantra

00:32:03.919 --> 00:32:04.819
 that somebody else

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.720
 or even the people

00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.740
 from India preach

00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.980
 and teach.

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:08.639
 Just repeat this

00:32:08.639 --> 00:32:09.279
 over and over again,

00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:09.819
 you'll be okay.

00:32:09.919 --> 00:32:10.299
 You know what?

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.740
 Repeating something

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:12.680
 doesn't save you.

00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.859
 Understanding you're a sinner

00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:16.740
 that needs a Savior.

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.279
 You know,

00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:20.899
 there's a lot of religious people

00:32:20.900 --> 00:32:23.040
 who miss the fact

00:32:23.040 --> 00:32:24.360
 that they're a sinner

00:32:24.360 --> 00:32:26.259
 and they need a Savior.

00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.940
 I want you to understand,

00:32:28.060 --> 00:32:28.900
 that's the light

00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:30.240
 that Cornelius needed.

00:32:30.800 --> 00:32:31.740
 And you need to obey

00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:33.400
 what God has said.

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.680
 That is the good news

00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.800
 of Jesus Christ.

00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.380
 He is the one

00:32:38.380 --> 00:32:40.740
 who came and died for you.

00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:42.160
 I want you to understand

00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.940
 that God

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:45.720
 wants you to know

00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:47.100
 what He's done for you.

00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:50.719
 Cornelius was seeking.

00:32:51.939 --> 00:32:52.539
 And you know what?

00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.359
 If you're here today

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:54.099
 and not saved,

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.899
 I know one thing,

00:32:54.959 --> 00:32:55.980
 you're seeking something.

00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:57.299
 You need to ask yourself

00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:57.839
 a question.

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.779
 Has there been a moment

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.419
 in time

00:32:59.419 --> 00:33:01.919
 when you can look at

00:33:01.919 --> 00:33:03.379
 to say,

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.299
 I know

00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:06.480
 that's the moment

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.679
 I called upon

00:33:07.679 --> 00:33:08.699
 Jesus Christ

00:33:08.699 --> 00:33:09.379
 recognizing

00:33:09.379 --> 00:33:10.339
 I'm a sinner,

00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:12.379
 that He paid my debt,

00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:14.559
 and I asked Him

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:14.959
 to say,

00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.279
 Lord,

00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:17.400
 put what you have done

00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:18.799
 please to my account

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:20.100
 just as you have offered.

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:22.000
 It happens in a moment.

00:33:24.100 --> 00:33:25.680
 It happens in an instant.

00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:27.680
 You know,

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.960
 we find in this passage

00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:29.980
 why Peter preached

00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:30.880
 the Holy Spirit

00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:31.600
 fell upon Him.

00:33:31.600 --> 00:33:32.500
 You know what it tells us?

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.400
 Because at the moment

00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:35.180
 of salvation,

00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:36.079
 you get all

00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.000
 the Spirit of God.

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.500
 We'll talk about

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.480
 some of that next week.

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:43.059
 There's a lot

00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:44.019
 in Acts chapter 10

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.440
 to cover.

00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.940
 But I want you to understand

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:48.340
 who Cornelius was.

00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:49.600
 Who was this message

00:33:49.600 --> 00:33:51.019
 to that Peter

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.720
 was to bring?

00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.600
 Because there's

00:33:54.600 --> 00:33:55.660
 many people today

00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.420
 that are just like

00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.019
 Cornelius.

00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.160
 Good people

00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:01.420
 by outward standard

00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.680
 miss

00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:04.340
 the fact

00:34:04.340 --> 00:34:06.299
 that they cannot

00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:07.319
 be good enough

00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:08.820
 to get to heaven.

00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:11.460
 It's only through

00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:12.860
 the shed blood

00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:14.119
 of Jesus Christ,

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:14.519
 the pain,

00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.039
 the penalty

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:16.119
 for your sin

00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:17.519
 and for mine.

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.519
 What about you

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:19.039
 this morning?

00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:22.039
 Maybe you're here

00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:23.000
 and you're not sure.

00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:25.380
 If you're not sure,

00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:26.179
 I encourage you.

00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:27.279
 We're going to have a chance

00:34:27.279 --> 00:34:28.119
 to respond here

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:28.839
 in just a moment.

00:34:29.579 --> 00:34:30.380
 Pray that you'll have

00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:31.139
 the courage to say,

00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:31.400
 Lord,

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.779
 I want to know

00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:35.619
 not what the preacher

00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:36.099
 says,

00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:37.139
 not what Plains Baptist

00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:37.799
 Church says,

00:34:37.839 --> 00:34:38.659
 but what does the book

00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:39.019
 say

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:42.239
 on how to be saved?

00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.659
 It's the only thing

00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.280
 that matters.

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:46.119
 Maybe you're saved today

00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:47.360
 and forgot what Christ

00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:48.340
 did for you.

00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:49.619
 Maybe you seem to take

00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.900
 a moment to thank him

00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:53.820
 for his salvation.

00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:56.880
 Maybe it's being

00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:58.400
 obedient to him.

00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.940
 Maybe there's an area

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.500
 of your life

00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:01.960
 that you've been

00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:02.719
 holding out on

00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:03.099
 that says,

00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:03.360
 Lord,

00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:03.659
 no,

00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.859
 I need to be

00:35:04.859 --> 00:35:06.219
 faithful in that.

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:08.019
 Because of what

00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:09.039
 you've done for me,

00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:11.239
 I need to do.

00:35:11.739 --> 00:35:12.460
 That's you.

00:35:13.779 --> 00:35:14.599
 Don't leave here

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.159
 the same way

00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:15.839
 you came in.

00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.799
 As heads are bowed

00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:19.559
 and eyes are closed

00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.039
 this morning,

00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:20.899
 what about you

00:35:20.899 --> 00:35:21.779
 today?

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.199
 Heavenly Father,