How to Get God's Attention.

Acts 10:1-8: In 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." When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

There are a few things about Cornelius I'd like to point out:

• He was in the military. 
• His whole family loved God and served Him. 
• He had compassion on the poor and gave generously to them. 
• He prayed regularly, he was watching. 
• He had a supernatural encounter that affected his natural circumstance. 
• He obeyed what God said to do. 
• He entrusted a faithful man to the task and took authority in the situation. 
• He cooperated with Heaven and his whole family received salvation. 
• The people following him knew Cornelius was a righteous man. He had favor with God and man. 
• He was expectant that God would do what He had shown him. 
• He used his influence and gathered those around him into a divine appointment with God. 
• He honored the man of God. He had a revelation of honoring authority and those that God sends. 
• He was a man of relationship and hospitality. 
• Through his obedience, Cornelius actually became the doorway for salvation to the Gentiles and brought destruction to prior religious ideas that would have hindered Gentiles from receiving Christ. Wow!

As you read through this account, you will see that Peter came and explained all that had happened with Jesus and that he was a witness to it. Then the Holy Spirit filled them just as on the day of Pentecost. This brings up an important fact about receiving visions and communications from God. All revelatory experiences should point to Jesus and the Holy Spirit will bear witness to it.

Cornelius did repeat his revelatory experience to Peter and God confirmed it with His Spirit. Many times I have shared my experiences with God prematurely or presumptuously. I have learned that the timing of the Lord has to line up with the revelation or the Holy Spirit cannot bear witness to it. It will fall to the ground. It is an art to learn to be quiet, to speak, to testify of God's work in your life in a way that ministers grace to the hearers. If we are focused on ourselves, God cannot bear witness to what we say. He can only bear witness to those things that give the glory to Christ.

So how did Cornelius get God's attention? He built a monumental tower of prayer mixed with good deeds. A place where God would remember him.  It was solidly built in the spirit realm. His treasure was being multiplied in Heaven. Every time God's eyes would look toward Cornelius, this memorial of persistent love, prayer, and compassion caught God's attention. He was more than ready to answer his heart's desire because he harmonized with Heaven's heartbeat. So I ask you, what will you be remembered for? How will you get God's attention?