In Acts chapter 8, we read that the church in Jerusalem was facing intense persecution led by Saul. In chapter 9, Saul turned to Christ and his name was changed to Paul. He raised up his own disciples shortly after. People began to seek his life and persecute him greatly. Although Paul received the vision to take the Gospel to the gentiles, the door was yet to be opened. God needed to a unique gentile to come to faith so that the Jewish Church might accept gentile believers.
This unique vessel was Cornelius. He was an integrated vessel who played a key role in the great expansion of the Gospel later on.
Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment
Acts 10:2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
Acts 10:7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.
Acts 10:22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.
Cornelius was integrated in a few aspects:
1. His faith was integrated on a personal level (v1):
Though he was a centurion, he was a devout man. Not only did he not worship Emperor Caesar, but he also loved God and people. He prayed to God always and gave alms generously to the people.
2. His faith was integrated with the whole household (v2):
His belief didn’t stay on a personal level, instead, it affected his whole household who feared God with him.
3. His faith was integrated with his workplace (v7):
Cornelius himself was a devout man – a devout centurion. Those who served him were devout soldiers.
4. His faith was integrated with the city (v22):
Although Cornelius was an Italian, he lived in Caesarea. His uprightness and devout belief brought him a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews.
Many of us have come to Christ but our belief and life are divided. Some of us are Christians, but not our spouses or children. Maybe our colleagues don’t even know that we are Christians. This kind of division makes our faith powerless and we are unable to be greatly used by God.
Facing the upcoming great harvest of the end times, the Gospel is to go into different countries, races, cultures, and social classes. Only through an integrated vessel shall the door of the Gospel be flung wide.
Dear brothers and sisters, if you are prompted to become an elite Kingdom soldier who makes true, “all who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord”, then you are welcome to enroll in our online bible school. In the coming days, let us fight the good fight for the Gospel, the Truth, and the coming of our Lord.
