Saving Life of Christ - Part 4 — Major Ian Thomas

Let me welcome you this evening to the last evening of our Spiritual Renewal Conference. Many of you have been with us for these three nights. Those of you who are new, and I've met some of you, we'd like to extend an especially warm welcome to you.

It is, again, my great privilege to be able to introduce Major Ian Thomas. As I said before, a man who's had tremendous influence on my own life. And I can't tell you how appreciative I've been over these days of seeing this man of God who has weathered many storms.

The Promise of Fruitfulness in Old Age

In Psalm 90 says this, Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall be fresh and flourishing. They shall bear fruit in old age to declare that the Lord is righteous and there is no unrighteousness in him.

And Major Thomas certainly has done that for me, for us, and we are so privileged to have him once again this evening.

Christ's Adequacy in the Christian Life

Well, it's so good to be with you again tonight. And I appreciate so much the very real privilege that has been mine to share the Lord Jesus with you. During the evening, as also with some of the cadets last night, and with the pastors and wives this afternoon.

We had a good time. And I had the joy of sharing again how gloriously, overwhelmingly adequate the Lord Jesus is in every circumstance, in everybody's life who's prepared to let him be as God, the God he is in then, in and through them.

It's exciting to get up every morning and know that the one who died for us then is the one who's going to share his life with us today, right here and now. And accomplish in and through us what is his mind and will and purpose.

That's the Christian life. A member of the body of the Lord Jesus, through whom he continues to do and continues to teach the things that he began to do and began to teach. And he'll go on doing that through that which is now his body on earth, the church, until he returns.

Vindicated in his deity, recognized for who he is, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord and bow in his presence. What a day that's going to be. Could be tomorrow or the day after. I'm looking forward to it.

Because remember, I don't anticipate dying before he comes. It's so near. I can't say that for sure. Because he's God and I'm not. Coming. I believe the events all around the world are such that they're shouting at us.

He's on the doorstep. He's knocking at the door. Hope you're ready for that moment. When if you're redeemed, numbered amongst those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's book of life. You see him as he is and you like him.

Restored to image. As I was indicating to the folks this afternoon, when we see him as he is and we're like him, who will he see? When he looks at you, when he looks at me? Himself. But that's exactly what he had in mind when he first created Adam.

Let us make man in our image, our likeness, and in the image and likeness of God, made he, him. So when God looks at man and sees himself, that's normality. That doesn't make you superman, it simply makes you normal.

The Indwelling Holy Spirit and Divine Enabling

And that's why he came and died and rose again from the dead. And on the day of Pentecost, for the first time in all human history since Adam fell, by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, took up residence within the humanity of every forgiven sinner.

Who was there at his command, waiting to receive that power that alone comes from on high. Not just power, a person. Somebody in whom all the power is vested. Tremendous. It wasn't until the early believers discovered the Lord Jesus alive and well that they got into action.

Were empowered by his divine indwelling for the purpose for which he had brought them into being. And it is still today, nearly 2 ,000 years later, only by virtue of his presence, that you and I are enabled to be functional as a member of his body, sharing his life, recognizing his headship, and gladly acknowledging.

As the Lord Jesus said, the kingdom of God is within you. And if the kingdom of God is within us, then that's exactly where the king ought to be, exercising his sovereignty, calling the shots and expecting us to do as we're told.

And when you're told what to do and you do as you're told, when you're sent and you went, you're put. And we talked about this yesterday. But you can't be put until you've made the discovery that the early church had to discover before they could become effective.

A risen living Lord, in whom you have a new joy, a new Bible, a new message, a new responsibility, and supremely by his divine indwelling a new enabling. Then you can say, to me to live is Christ. Because his strength is made perfect in our weakness.

So all we can boast about is our weakness and his strength. And let God loose in the world in which we live. Marvellous. And the message of the early church once said, rediscovered Jesus alive and well.

They had nothing else to talk about. But a risen living and indwelling saviour. Peter, who had said, not so Lord to the cross, because he didn't want the cross, didn't believe in the resurrection. And full of enthusiasm and dedication and commitment and genuine love to the Lord Jesus, was at dead loss.

Until he too came to know the risen Lord. Convinced of the truth of it. And the early church entered then into the good of it at Pentecost. And then demonstrated the fact of it. And preached in the power of it.

And lived in the joy of it. That was the real church. So long as they kept the Lord Jesus by faith in the place where he deserves to be. In their hearts. Clothing his deity and divine activity with their redeemed humanity.

The Church in Action: Obeying God Rather Than Men

The church in action. Is Christ in action. We're going to talk about that a bit tonight. Peter and the other disciples and said, we ought to obey God rather than men. We'll just pick up the story from there.

It's in the fifth chapter of the book of Acts. And said they, we are his witnesses. This is our new responsibility. To be witnesses to the person of the Lord Jesus unto the uttermost ends of the earth.

We're his witnesses. Of these things. But not only we. So also is the Holy Spirit. Whom God has given to them that obey him. Obeying the gospel. In other words, being honest enough to admit that you're a guilty sinner.

Needing exactly what the Lord Jesus came to do. And undeservingly to become thereby the recipients of his indwelling life. So that he can get on with what he once began to do and began to teach. And the story of the true early church.

Is what the Lord Jesus continued to do and continued to teach. Peter and the other apostles in the twenty-ninth verse of the fifth chapter. Said we ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you slew and you hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with his right hand. Him hath God raised up with his right hand to be a prince and a savior. For to give repentance to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. And we're his witnesses.

And so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to them that obey him. In other words, simply at his disposal. Available. When the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin heard these things. Verse thirty-three.

They were cut to the heart. And they took counsel to slay them. Foolishly imagining that if they could silence them, they could silence God. But there stood up one of them. In the council, a Pharisee.

But he was named Gamaliel, the doctor of the law. And in reputation among all the people because they recognized in Dr. Gamaliel. Genuine reality. So he commanded them to put the apostles forth a little while.

And said, you men of Israel. Take heed to yourselves what you intend to do is touching these men. Before these days rose up Thudas, boasting himself to be somebody. To whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves.

Who was slain. He died. And they were scattered and brought to nothing. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing. He drew away much people after him. He also perished. And all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

Thudas is dead. Judas is dead. Now I say unto you, verse thirty-eight. Refrain from these men. Let them alone. For if this counsel or this work be of men. It'll come to nothing. But if it be of God. You cannot overthrow it unless happily you think you can fight against God.

Thudas is dead. Judas is dead. And thought they Jesus is dead. But if this is of God. Jesus is alive. And to him they agreed. And when they'd called the apostles and beaten them. Because they couldn't deny themselves that privilege.

They commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. And let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council. Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame. For his name.

And daily in the temple. And in every house. House to house. They ceased not to teach. And preach. Jesus. The Christ. Convinced of the truth of it. Entering into the good of it. On the day of Pentecost.

Becoming the recipients of his divine indwelling. By the gift of God the Holy Spirit. Demonstrating the fact of it. Preaching in the power of it. And living in the joy of it. The joy of suffering shame for his name.

That was the early church. After they'd made the life transforming discovery. That Jesus was alive. Risen. From the dead. Teaching. And preaching. For they ceased not to teach and preach. That Jesus is the Christ.

You can't do any preaching. Until you're prepared to do some teaching. You see teaching is an intelligent declaration of the fact. The truth as it is. In Jesus. Preaching is then an exhortation to those who've been taught the facts.

To obey the truth and put their faith in Jesus. This is what the Lord Jesus did. When there was a great company of people who'd been fed. Miraculously. By the Lord Jesus. He taught them many things. I like the way Luther translates that in his Bible.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

I mean the German Bible. It isn't his. He just borrows it. From the one who wrote it. Instead of he taught them many things. That means. He preached a long sermon. That's always been a great encouragement to me.

At least I'm following in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus. He preached a long sermon. What was he teaching them? The truth. He looked at this great multitude. Five thousand. And he said they were like shepherds without a shepherd.

A lake sheep without a shepherd. He recognized their ignorance of what they needed to know. So he didn't teach them what they wanted to hear. He did what Jesus always did. He taught people what they needed to know.

At least the disciples thought it was a long sermon. Because finally they came along and said it's getting dark. These people are tired and hungry. It's time you quit. And the Lord Jesus said if they're hungry feed them.

He said how can we feed them? Five thousand. Or we've got five loaves, two fishes. Lord Jesus. It'll be a miracle and I'm going to teach you how to do a miracle. And live miraculously. And he took the five loaves and two fishes and broke them and gave them to distribute.

And everybody had as much as they could possibly eat and they were all filled. Because the genuine life of a genuine man is a miraculous life. Because it has no possible explanation but God. That's why the Lord Jesus wasn't Superman when he came.

He was simply man. As he is God created man to be. He was never ever less than God. Co-equal in deity with the Father and the Holy Spirit and the triune Godhead. But he deliberately chose and I have already alerted you to this in the second chapter of the book of the Philippians.

That of his own free choice and volition he deliberately chose to be born a human being. But he had to be born a human being. By relinquishing all the attributes of deity but still demonstrating the genuineness of his humanity.

He was never less than God. But always insisted upon living as though he were never more man. Because he knew that he was going to send us, you and me, as the Father had sent him. And he couldn't send us as God.

He could only send us in our restored humanity as those reconciled, cleansed from our sin. By what he did upon the cross in the reconciling act. Have been restored to function by the gift to us of his resurrection life.

But as men. Reconciled, redeemed and restored to life. Sharing his resurrection. That's why the disciples had absolutely nothing to talk about that Jesus alive. A witness at all times to his resurrection.

The Lord Jesus allowed to be clothing his deity with their humanity to be in action. As he had allowed the Father clothed with his sinless humanity. To be in action. He that has seen me has seen my Father.

What I do he does. What I say he says. What I am he is. Look at me and know God. And that's the privilege that he's given now to you and to me. As he yielded his body then without reserve to the Father.

So now he calls upon you and me. Cleansed in his blood. Reconciled to our creator. To place our humanity at his disposal. Without reservation. So that when others see us behave and hear us speak. This is the incredible privilege of being a Christian.

They'll see God behaving. And hear God speaking. Incredible. How could you settle for less? Than be restored to your true function. As an individual member of the body of Christ. With whom today he clothes his divine activity.

Philip Sent to the Desert Road

So what would you expect of the church in action? What would you then, had you known the truth, have expected of the Lord Jesus but the Father God in action? When the church, the true church, the real church is in action.

You would expect to see Christ behaving. Of course. And that was the early church. Those who were sent. And went. And were put. And let God take the consequences. In the blessing that is inevitable in the place where he's put you.

Turn to the eighth chapter of the book of Acts. Acts chapter eight. Soul. Soul of Tarsus. The arch enemy of the early church. Consenting unto the death of Stephen. Seeing him stone to death. Reveling in the fact that his blood was running in the gutter.

At that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Except the disciples who remained in Jerusalem.

The apostles. Devout men carried Stephen to his burial. To whose death. Soul of Tarsus had given his consent. And took care of the clothes of those who stoned him to death. Devout men carried Stephen to his burial.

Made great lamentation over him. As for soul. He made havoc of the church. Entering into every house. Hailing men and women. Committed them to prison. Therefore they were scattered abroad. Went everywhere.

Bemoaning their fate. Uh-uh. Preaching the word. You see. God didn't want the church to settle down in Jerusalem and get comfy. Air conditioning. Cushions to sit on. So he sent. A cat among the pigeons.

Soul of Tarsus. And scattered them. In case they forgot to what end they had been redeemed. To tell the world that Jesus is alive. They were scattered and went everywhere. Preaching the word. The living word.

Jesus. In whom all the promises and foreshadowings of God. In the written word. Had their final consummation. Clothed with his sinless deity. Scattered abroad and went everywhere. Preaching the word. And then Philip.

Went down to the city of Samaria. And preached Christ. Don't jump to a wrong conclusion there. It wasn't that some disciples preached the word and Philip preached Christ. You can't preach the word without preaching Christ.

And you can't preach Christ. Without preaching the word. Teaching and preaching. Explaining the facts. From the revelation that God has given to us in his book. And then exhorting people to mix those facts with faith.

So that he God by the Holy Spirit can turn the facts into reality. The experience. Of some boy, girl, man or woman who's come to know Jesus for who he is. And is prepared to let him be God. So Philip.

Went down to Samaria. And preached Christ. Was he a preacher? No, he was a deacon. But he preached. Because any boy, girl, man or woman can be a preacher if you'll talk about Jesus. He went down to the city of Samaria.

And preached Christ. Go on to the verse. 35, 25. When they had testified and preached the word of the Lord. They returned to Jerusalem and they preached the gospel in many villages. Villages of the Samaritans.

And the angel of the Lord spake to Philip saying. Arise. And go. Toward the south. The angel said go. And told him where to go. Unto the way. Continuing in that 26th verse. Unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza.

Which is desert. Now Philip by this time had become a. Well known. Applauded city evangelist. He'd become accustomed to countless people coming to hear him speak. And then God said go. Go south. Down from Jerusalem to Gaza which is desert.

Can you imagine how. Philip might have responded to that. Out in the desert. Don't you know. Haven't you been in my meetings when I've had thousands of people listening to what I had to say. Who do you think I'm going to preach to in the desert.

Bunch of goats. But he didn't. Say that. Do you know why. Because he was a man being. Continuous present tense filled with the Holy Spirit. He was available as a healthy member of the body of the Lord Jesus to be put where he was needed.

And that's why he didn't argue. Instead because he was being filled with the Holy Spirit. Do you know what he did. Look at verse 27. He arose and went. That's pretty simple. The Lord said go and he went.

That's a man being filled with the Holy Spirit. That's what it means to be a Christian. Be so available to the Lord Jesus 24 hours a day that whenever he says go. You arise and go and you win. And when you're told where to go and you win.

Where do you find yourself. Where was John when he was sent. A man sent from God. In the first chapter of John's Gospel. Where God put him. If you're sent and went you're put. That's what it means to be being filled with the Holy Spirit.

A healthy member of the body of Jesus. Available for his every instruction. Giving him the confidence to expect that when he says go. He'll be numbered amongst those who win. Behold a man of Ethiopia.

A eunuch of great authority. And a candidacy queen of the Ethiopians who had the charge of all her treasure. He was the chancellor of the Exchequer. And a queen. The queen of Ethiopia. Candidacy. And he was returning and sitting in his chariot.

Reading Isaiah the prophet. Would you expect to go into the desert and find somebody reading their Bible. The prophecy of Isaiah. And the Holy Spirit said then to Philip. Go near. Join yourself. To this chariot.

Because he's the object of Christ's quest. Philip ran thither to him. He had to run otherwise he would have missed his text. He ran thither to him. Heard him read the prophet Isaiah and said. Do you understand what you're reading?

He said how can I? Except some man should guide me. So he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. And the place of the scripture which he read was this. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.

Like a lamb. Dumb. Before his shearer so opened he not his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away. Who shall declare his generation for his life is taken from the earth. 53rd chapter of the prophecy of Isaiah.

The foreshadowing of the death of our Lord Jesus upon the cross. Wounded for our transgressions. Bruised for our iniquities. And the cost of our peace laid upon him. The eunuch answered in verse 34 and said.

I pray thee of whom speaketh. The prophet this. Is he talking about himself? Or somebody other man. Somebody else. Some other man. And then Philip did a very smart thing. He opened his mouth. It's a good thing to do if you're going to say something.

That's the first lesson in preaching. Homiletics. Open your mouth. Now the Lord Jesus had spent a whole bunch of time telling the disciples to keep their mouth shut. Don't tell anybody. Because you don't know enough to talk sense.

But here was a man in the desert in the place where God had put him. Who had the right to open his mouth. And began at the very same scripture. And preached unto him. Jesus. That's all he had to talk about.

Because he knew exactly of whom the prophet Isaiah was speaking in the 53rd chapter of that prophecy. Wounded for our transgressions. Bruised for our iniquities. The cost of our peace with God. Laid on him by whose stripes we heal.

So right beginning at that scripture he talked about Jesus. As they went on their way. They came under a certain water. So it's quite obvious that Philip had told him the significance of baptism. Not just that Jesus died then.

But that he rose again from the dead. And those who put their trust in this risen living indwelling saviour. Testify to their faith in him. By being baptised. Going beneath the water. Identifying themselves with his death.

And coming up out of the water. Sharing his resurrection. Because that's what it means to be baptised. Countless millions get baptised. And haven't a clue what's happening. Except they're becoming a church member.

Identified with Christ in death. Buried. But identified with him in the power of his resurrection life. Up out of the water. To begin your ministry. As a member of his body. Philip said. If you believe with all your heart.

What I've told you. You may. Which presupposes of course that if he didn't believe all that. Philip had told him. He may not. He answered and said. I believe. That Jesus Christ. Is the son of God. So Philip commanded the charity to stand still.

And they went both of them down into the water. Both Philip and the eunuch. And he baptised him. And when they were come out of the water. The Holy Spirit. Caught away Philip. But the eunuch saw him no more.

He went by donkey. And went home by air. A donkey ride. In the desert. You know. If Philip hadn't gone when God said go. And got on that donkey and set out. I think God would have sent the donkey. And he would have been about as good of course.

As somebody who goes without being sent. It's wonderful when you're sent and you win. But it's pathetic when you go. When you haven't been sent. And out of sheer enthusiasm. There are countless who've done that.

And made fools of themselves. Philip didn't. He was found finally at Azotus. And passing through. He preached in all the cities. Till he came to Caesarea. And I give you only one guess as to what he preached about.

Jesus. Well. This is the church in action. A donkey ride in the desert. Being told what to do. Doing as you're told. And being in the place where God has put you. And finding a man reading his Bible. Wanting to know what it really meant.

And led him to Christ. That doesn't sound very complicated does it? Philip didn't have to have unusual skill or special training. All he had to do was get on a donkey when he was told to. And go for a ride in the desert.

And God had already prepared the heart of a man who was waiting to hear. From the lips of one whose mouth had been placed at Christ's disposal. Why he went to the cross. That's the church in action. Donkey ride in the desert.

Where you expect nothing. Humanly speaking. Except your heart is filled with a simple childlike faith in a God. Who knows what he's doing and does what he knows. Chapter 9. Same book. And remember this is the continued activities of the Lord Jesus.

Ananias and Saul: Obedience at the Door

Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. Went unto the high priest. Saul of Tarsus. Arch enemy of the early church. Relished the death of Stephen when he was stoned to death.

Threw others into jail. Ridiculed those who believed that Jesus was the Christ. And so Saul of Tarsus desired of the high priest letters to Damascus to the synagogues. That if he found any of this way whether they were men or women.

He might bring them bound to Jerusalem and throw them into jail. But it was then that a light shined from heaven brighter than the sun. And he heard the voice of God. Through the clouds. Saul arose from the earth.

Verse 8. And when he saw no man but they led him by the hand. He was brought to Damascus. And there he resided. In Damascus. But there was a certain disciple at Damascus whose name was Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias.

Calling him by name. He said, behold I'm here. And the Lord said unto him, arise and. What's the word? Go. This is the church in action. Who's running the church? The Holy Spirit. Who's giving the instructions?

The Holy Spirit. That's the real church in action. The body of Christ. Indwelt by a risen living saviour. I saw the vision. And God said, Ananias, go. Go into the street which is called straight. And enter into the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus.

For behold he prayeth. So we see the church in action. Donkey ride in the desert. Now we see the church in action. Knock on the door down the road. Ananias answered, Lord. I've heard by many of this man, Saul of Tarsus.

How much evil he hath done to those saints of Jerusalem. Did you say, Saul of Tarsus? Are you sure you got the name right? Yeah, I got the name right. But here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call in your name.

I'd be sticking out my neck. Well, I understand that, said God to him. But that's not your business. That's my business. Because now that you're a member of my body, your neck is my neck. The Lord said unto him, verse 15.

Go thy way. Do as you're told. He is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. This man whom you fear is going to become Paul the Apostle. My special emissary to the Gentiles.

So Ananias stopped arguing. Do you know why? He was a man being filled with the Holy Spirit. How do you know? Well, it's simple. God said go and Ananias, verse 17, went. And if you're told to go and you went, it means that you're a healthy member of the body of Christ.

That's all it means to be being filled with the Holy Spirit. You don't have to make antics and draw attention to yourself. You just are told what to do and do as you're told. Isn't that terribly complicated?

A man full of the Holy Spirit. He went his way. Entered into the house. Putting his hands on him. Said, Brother Saul. The Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto me in the way as thou camest, hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Saul of Tarsus, you're going to become an entirely new creature. Nobody will recognize you for who you were. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales. For Saul of Tarsus had been led blinded into Damascus.

When he saw that light from heaven and the face of God. The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He received sight forthwith and arose and he too was baptized. Identified himself, Saul of Tarsus, enemy of the early church with the one who died and who spoke to him from heaven on the road to Damascus.

Came out of the water to share the life of his risen indwelling Savior. And straightway, verse 20, he preached Jesus, the Christ. In the synagogues that he is the Son of God. All that heard him were amazed and said, is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem?

Came hither for that intent that he might bring them bound into the chief priest. Is this the same man? Of course. But recreated by the gift of that life from God that man lost in the day that Adam believed the devil's lie that he could be a man without God.

Humanism. And man becomes his own God. Saul increased the more in strength, verse 22. Confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus proving that this is the very Christ. Just a knock on the door down the road.

Because a man was told to go and he went. This is the church in action. Nothing spectacular. Donkey ride in the desert, knock on the door down the road. Just ordinary people. Doing ordinary things but under divine compunction.

This is the church in action. Chapter 10, verse 1. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius. A centurion of the band called the Italian band. That regiment in the Roman army that were present and crucified the Lord Jesus and later was stationed at a city in England called Chester.

And there's a museum there of this particular regiment. And this man was a centurion called Cornelius. He was a major. And all majors are very very fine people. He was a devout man. He was one that feared God with all his house.

In other words, his fear of God was so convincing that his kids couldn't help but be identified with him in his fear of God. His servants identified themselves with him. He was a devout man. And his devotion to God they couldn't challenge.

He gave much alms to the people. He was generous. And he prayed to God. Always. He was a God-fearing man. A man of prayer. So convincing that he didn't have to whip his kids to go to church. They loved him.

For the man of God he was. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day, verse 3. An angel of God coming into him saying to him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him he was afraid. And said, what is it Lord?

He said to him, your prayers and your alms, your gifts have come up for a memorial before God. Never imagine that an unbeliever is despised by God if he's earnestly seeking to know the truth. The Lord Jesus promised if a man seek, he will find.

Only those fail to find who never sought. Only those to whom the door remains shut are those who never knocked. But to those who seek, they'll find. To those who knock, said the Lord Jesus, the door will open.

Always. And the lovely thing is that the Lord Jesus knows exactly where they are. He knew there was a man reading his Bible in the desert. He knew that there was a soul of Tarsus who had heard the voice of God on the road to Damascus.

Bear that in mind. When God says go, he knows where you've got to go. And he knows where you're going to be put. And he's already prepared the hearts of those to whom he's going to minister through you.

For their eternal good. Send men now, verse 5, God said, through the angel to Cornelius. Send now men to Joppa, call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter. I tell you where he lives. He lodged with one Simon Atanah, whose house is by the seaside.

And he shall tell you what you ought to do. God has seen your prayers, heard them. God has seen the good gifts that you've given to your fellow countrymen in their need. God knows it all. But I'm going to send you, or tell you to send for a man who's going to tell you what you ought to do.

Because your prayers, Cornelius, aren't enough in themselves. Your good works, the alms, the gifts that you make available to the poor, they aren't enough in them. They won't wash away your sin. But there's a man down in Joppa who'll tell you what you ought to do.

Well, a well-meaning neighbor of Cornelius might, having heard this, say, If ever there was a man that deserves to go to heaven, Mr. Cornelius, or Major Cornelius, you're that man. Don't listen to these people, they're scaring you, they're frightening you, as though you weren't fit for heaven.

Forget it. If ever a man deserved to go to heaven, on the basis of the kind of life that you live, you're that man. Was Cornelius impressed? No. When the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, verse 7, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, two of them, that waited on him continually.

And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. He wasn't too proud to admit to two of his servants and a soldier escort that God had told him by an angel that he needed something more than his devotion and good works.

And he's told me to send to Joppa, there's a man called Peter there who's going to tell me what I ought to do. Wasn't that kind of God? To find a man too ignorant to come to Jesus, because nobody ever told him about Jesus, but make sure that somebody who knew Jesus would come and tell him what he needed to know.

That's how good God is, that's his kindness, that's grace. On the morrow as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up unto the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. This is the man they'd gone to fetch.

And he had climbed onto the roof and was praying there. And while he was up there, he saw a vision. He became very hungry and would have eaten. And while they made ready, he fell into a trance. Peter saw the heavens opened and a certain vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to the earth.