A Centurion’s Dream

by | Jul 20, 2015 | Preaching Videos

The church needs to infect the world with the dream of the Kingdom of God so that people see the beauty and value of life lived under the reign of God’s love.

Summary

Cornelius was a successful man in the eyes of the world and he served the Roman Empire that had conquered the Jews, yet, for some reason he identified himself with both the religion and the God of the Jews. Pastor Bill Brannan proposes that the reason is that Cornelius, through the preaching of God’s Law, caught the dream of what the world would look like if governed by God’s law. It was so beautiful in his eyes that it became the obsession of his life, it got the attention of heaven and ultimately led him to Jesus, the only way into the kingdom of God.

Outline

  1. This Man Cornelius
    1. A Successful man.
    2. Something converted him to Judaism.
    3. My Theory. (Acts 15:31 – Moses preached in every generation in every city.)
    4. Cornelius Caught the dream of the Kingdom
  2. We Need to Infect the Nations with the Dream of the Kingdom of God.
    1. The fear of the Lord – Wisdom Tradition.
    2. When I got to Gilmer for the Revival – Movie on William Wilberforce.
    3. Time of William Carey.
    4. Vishal Mangalwadi.
    5. The First Great Awakening.
    6. The Queen of Sheba – Alexis De Tocqueville
      1. Prosperous because….Christian religion
      2. Women in America are stronger, happier and more industrious…
      3. Problem of slavery.
    7. THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING THE KINGDOM BEFORE IT BIRTHS DEATH IN SOCIETY.
  3. Grace and Apostleship for bringing the nations into the obedience of the faith. (Romans 1:5) – Making disciples of all nations.
    1. The original commission and the Great commission.
    2. Learning from God – Everything He does demonstrates His heart.
      1. Out of Egypt – the Law – A social structure of freedom where love reigns.
      2. In the social architecture of the Kingdom the “church” was only one aspect.
    3. God’s law reveals His character and nature.
    4. Eternal and temporal fellowship with God.
    5. The heart of the Old Covenant was atonement – God with Man as George put it.
  4. The dream of the kingdom infected Cornelius so that he hungered and thirsted for righteousness.
    1. Acts 10:3–6 (NKJV) — 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
    2. The power of the Gospel to transform lives.
    3. The power of the Holy Spirit
  5. Our Church – and many others as well.
    1. Committed to the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
    2. The gospel is all about the rule of love inside and outside the church.
      1. It includes a comprehensive social architecture that encompasses every area of life including the Church, State, Politics, Education, Economics and every other area of life.
      2. The Law of God is given to order all things according to love understanding the sinfulness of man.
      3. The gospel is given to make us actually loving.
      4. The greatest treasure of the church and the seal of apostolic authority is transformed lives – people being conformed into the image of Christ.
    3. Kingdom warfare
      1. Tactics of the enemy – spiritual pressure and abuse.
      2. If trouble knocks you out of the will of God.
      3. The mission to divide and conquer.
    4. KINGDOM VISION
      1. Need to see the importance and significance of what we are a part of.
      2. WE NEED TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE SAINTS IN LIGHT.
      3. Every member fulfilling their place in the body, the army of God.
      4. From personal troubles to national troubles.
    5. PRAYER
    6. Maintaining life:
      1. Righteousness, peace and Joy.
      2. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
      3. Loving one another.
    7. THE HOPE FOR NATIONS.
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