1. Coming Together to Fill the Heart Coming Together to Fill the Heart In order to “fill our hearts” with the word of the Lord, we must first be here, and secondly we must possess an attitude of wanting to know what God would want us to do.

2. The Conversion of Cornelius An angel appears to Cornelius Announces that his prayers have been noticed Instructed to send for Peter Sends two servants and a soldier to Peter Peter has a vision Object like a sheet comes down from heaven filled with all sorts of creatures Peter is told to “kill and eat” Peter objects – he has never eaten anything unclean “What God has cleansed you must not call common”

3. The Conversion of Cornelius Spirit tells Peter to go with the Messengers Peter is trying to figure out what the vision means Spirit tells Peter to go with them “doubting nothing” Peter takes 6 men with him as they leave Peter arrives at Cornelius’ house Cornelius has gathered his family and friends Deflects an attempt by Cornelius to worship him Explains his presence Asks why he was called – Cornelius recounts it Cornelius’ household “ready to hear all things”

4. The Conversion of Cornelius Peter’s sermon to Cornelius and household Lets them know that God shows no partiality Perception based upon the vision of unclean creatures Perception continued with Spirit’s instruction to go Perception later made clear with the Spirit and Gentiles Peter proceeds to preach Jesus to them Peter commands them to be baptized In the name of the Lord "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.” Acts 10:47-48

5. Coming Together to “FILL THE HEART” Religious people need to be saved… Many believe that if you’re religious – you’ll be saved If you go to church, are morally good, do good deeds, you will have earned the right to enter into heaven We see in Cornelius that he was: Devout, feared God, gave alms, prayed to God and he still needed to hear “words by which you and your household will be saved” Religion is not what saves, it is the blood of Christ!

6. Coming Together to “FILL THE HEART” The Gospel is for all… God is no respecter of persons God desires all to be saved (John 3:16; Mark 16:16) We are saved by the grace of God (Titus 2:11-13) God has done His part – we must now do ours God requires a response of our faith Obedience (Hebrews 5:9) Repentance (Acts 2:38; Luke 13:3) Confession (Romans 10:10; Matthew 10:32) Baptism (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 22:16)

7. Christ invites us to accept His invitation