The Power of Your Prayer and Your Generosity
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a Centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea. Acts 10:1-6.
Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea. Acts 10:1-6.
Is God listening to our prayers? Is God taking note of our generosity? He certainly is.
The Bible says the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to our cry.
The Bible also says in Galatians 6, “ A man reaps whatever he sows...Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Cornelius was God fearing, prayerful and generous. He gave generously to those in need and prayed regularly to God. At a time when he probably did not expect, God sent an angel to bless him and his entire household. The story goes on to tell us that God gave Peter a vision to prepare him to minister to Cornelius, Jesus gave Peter the meaning of the vision and the Holy Spirit gave him precise instructions about what to do. The entire government of Heaven was involved - the Father, Son And Spirit. When Peter met Cornelius, he made it clear that it was unlawful for him, a Jew, to associate with Cornelius a Gentile. In other words, God was breaking every barrier erected by man just to bless Cornelius.
Cornelius, his household and friends were all blessed with the Holy Spirit and baptised into the Kingdom of God because his prayers and generosity went as a memorial before God.
Our prayers are not falling on deaf ears and our generosity is not going unnoticed by God. Jesus noticed the widow’s “little” offering in the Temple and commended her. She gave her all.
Do you truly fear God? Are you praying regularly? Are you giving generously toward God’s kingdom agenda? Don’t grow weary. Don’t fall into the temptation of giving up. Your prayers and generosity are a memorial offering to God. You never know when God might surprise you by sending His angel with a blessing. Prayer and generosity are powerful. They never go unnoticed by God! I pray a heavenly surprise over you soon!
The Bible says the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to our cry.
The Bible also says in Galatians 6, “ A man reaps whatever he sows...Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Cornelius was God fearing, prayerful and generous. He gave generously to those in need and prayed regularly to God. At a time when he probably did not expect, God sent an angel to bless him and his entire household. The story goes on to tell us that God gave Peter a vision to prepare him to minister to Cornelius, Jesus gave Peter the meaning of the vision and the Holy Spirit gave him precise instructions about what to do. The entire government of Heaven was involved - the Father, Son And Spirit. When Peter met Cornelius, he made it clear that it was unlawful for him, a Jew, to associate with Cornelius a Gentile. In other words, God was breaking every barrier erected by man just to bless Cornelius.
Cornelius, his household and friends were all blessed with the Holy Spirit and baptised into the Kingdom of God because his prayers and generosity went as a memorial before God.
Our prayers are not falling on deaf ears and our generosity is not going unnoticed by God. Jesus noticed the widow’s “little” offering in the Temple and commended her. She gave her all.
Do you truly fear God? Are you praying regularly? Are you giving generously toward God’s kingdom agenda? Don’t grow weary. Don’t fall into the temptation of giving up. Your prayers and generosity are a memorial offering to God. You never know when God might surprise you by sending His angel with a blessing. Prayer and generosity are powerful. They never go unnoticed by God! I pray a heavenly surprise over you soon!
Prayer: Lord, I pray for your children who are reading this today. Imbue each with the grace to pray and give generously without growing weary. May you send an angel with a surprise blessing for each of their lives, I ask this in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.