I. The Work Of The H.S. In Cornelius’ Life
A. Pre-Salvation
1. Cornelius- not the same circumstance for everyone
a. Gentile, Roman, soldier. Respectable, powerful, influential.
b. Lived and served under a powerful, but idolatrous nation
c. Dissatisfied with idolatry of Rome. Spiritually unfulfilled.
d. Began to seek the God of the Bible thru watching Jews
e. Devout, feared God, influenced others towards God V.2,24
f. Gave alms, prayed to God.
g. Good reputation w/Jews V.22
h. Cornelius-moral, & hungered for God, yet unsaved
2. Pre-salvation work of Holy Spirit
a. Acts 5:30-32 H.S. witnesses to human heart re. Jesus
b. John 16:8-11 H.S. convinces people of their sins
i. Sin of unbelief- rejecting Christ V.9
ii. Righteousness of Jesus, proven by resurrection, & needed by man for salvation. V.10
iii. Satan- “ruler of this world” is judged. Many say there will be no judgment. H.S. testifies to judgment V. 11
c. John 14:17 H.S. “with” person prior to conversion. “para”
B. Salvation
1. Cornelius believes, receives indwelling of Holy Spirit
a. Acts 10:43 “…whoever believe in Him will receive remission of sins”.
b. Cornelius & others believe, are saved, and indwelt by H.S.
2. H.S. indwells person at salvation
a. John 14:17 “…and will be in you”. “en”
b. Christian- Temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Cor. 6:18-20 18Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
c. Sealed by H.S.- Eph. 1:13, 14 “…having believed, you were sealed w/ the H. S. of promise, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance…
C. Filled With Holy Spirit
1. Cornelius saved and filled immediately
a. Not always the case
b. Acts 8:15, 16 Samaritans saved, but not filled w/H.S.
c. Acts 19:1-6 Ephesians saved, but not filled w/H.S.
2. Overflow Of Holy Spirit manifested
a. “…the Holy Spirit fell upon…” V.44
b. “…gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out.” V.45
c. “…they heard them speak w/ tongues & magnify God. V.46
II. The Spirit Filled (Controlled) Life
All this was just the beginning for Cornelius
He was now forgiven of his sins. He was saved from God’s judgment
He was equipped to live for God.
But he would have to continue to choose to surrender to the Holy Spirit for the rest of his life. This is true for every Christian
A. Beyond Human Morality
1. Cornelius- humanly speaking, a devout an living in a pagan world
a. Rejected the paganism and immorality of Rome
b. Devout, generous, prayerful, reputable
2. At conversion Cornelius entered a new world.
a. “Holy” Spirit now to be the ruling moral agent for Cornelius.
b. A sensitivity that went beyond human morality
3. Romans 8:1-17
B. Beyond Human Wisdom
1. Cornelius would no longer follow the thinking of Roman society.
2. Ephesians 3:14-19
C. Beyond Human Power
1. Cornelius served the great Roman Empire.
a. Rome crushed their opposition.
b. Cornelius was a leader in that empire.
2. Holy Spirit empowers the Christian
a. Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
b. Ephesians 1:15-22
c. Not power for self, but to live for Jesus
D. A Surrendered Life
1. What would Cornelius’ responsibility be?
2. To allow the Holy Spirit to be in charge of His life
3. To follow that impulse of the Spirit.
4. To not grieve the Holy through disobedience. Eph 4:30
5. To not quench the Holy Spirit. 1 Thess. 5:19
6. To continue to follow and yield to that same work of God that brought Cornelius to salvation
7. Galatians 6:7, 8 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
8. Everyone sows. It is our choice what we cultivate into our lives.
9. How wise for the Christian to yield to that same work that brought them to salvation. To have that work continue and be completed.
10. How wise for the unbeliever to receive that convincing work of the H.S. and to be saved.