The Acts 10:1-4
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italian Band. A devout man, and one that feared GOD with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to GOD always. 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."
I chose to tell the first part of the story of Cornelius, because he demonstrates the character of the Christian; prayer and alms giving. It is important to understand that Cornelius was a gentile, converted to the way of GOD and he and his whole house were devout and GOD-fearing.
The evidence of his and his household's devotion to GOD was found in the practice of prayer and the giving of alms to the people. In this time of economic down-turn, the Christian is challenged to pray for the Country and its leaders; pray for the poor, the sick, and the needy; and give evidence of the Love of JESUS by giving alms.
Notice what I just said, giving Alms is "evidence of the Love of JESUS". Christians are vehicles of the love of JESUS filing all the world with the passionate mercy, grace and love of GOD. We are vessels of GOD'S provision. So, when we pray, we should ask the LORD how He wants us to give to provide for a person whom GOD wishes to supply the need. Then our act of giving is really THE ACT OF GOD.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italian Band. A devout man, and one that feared GOD with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to GOD always. 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."
I chose to tell the first part of the story of Cornelius, because he demonstrates the character of the Christian; prayer and alms giving. It is important to understand that Cornelius was a gentile, converted to the way of GOD and he and his whole house were devout and GOD-fearing.
The evidence of his and his household's devotion to GOD was found in the practice of prayer and the giving of alms to the people. In this time of economic down-turn, the Christian is challenged to pray for the Country and its leaders; pray for the poor, the sick, and the needy; and give evidence of the Love of JESUS by giving alms.
Notice what I just said, giving Alms is "evidence of the Love of JESUS". Christians are vehicles of the love of JESUS filing all the world with the passionate mercy, grace and love of GOD. We are vessels of GOD'S provision. So, when we pray, we should ask the LORD how He wants us to give to provide for a person whom GOD wishes to supply the need. Then our act of giving is really THE ACT OF GOD.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.
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