In Acts 10, the Jewish disciples, apostles, and witnesses of Jesus’ glory had only been teaching salvation through Jesus Christ to the Jews—as he was their Jewish Messiah….but God was ready to reveal to Peter that salvation and all the promises God gave his chosen people, the Jews, WERE extended to the Gentiles too! Hallelujah!  That includes the entire world!

As stated in John 1:10-12 (KJV)

“He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹ He came unto his own [the Jews], and his own received him not. ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Also stated in John 3: 16-17 (KJV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Does God Hear My Prayers?

Sometimes we may wonder if God hears our prayers.  The story below in Acts 10 is an example that reveals, YES:  

• God is always listening;
• God deals in specifics;
• God wants us to know his Word: God wants you to hear His word taught from a specific pastor or preacher who is anointed by God to teach you!
• God ANSWERS prayer, but sometimes WE are required to take ACTION!

Acts 10:30-43 (NIV)

1. God HEARS: Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.
2. God is SPECIFIC: ³² Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’
3. ACTION TAKEN:  ³³ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
4. God’s Word taught by a specific anointed preacher: ³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.  ³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
5. God’s ANSWER to Cornelius’ prayer: ⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” ⁴⁸ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
6. Read Acts 11 for more of Peter’s revelation, Acts 11:18 states, “…and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”