by Glenice Mills
As I was reading the Bible the other day, I was reading Acts 10 when the Lord dropped on me and particularly highlighted a verse that spoke of the character of a man called Cornelius. The Lord began to speak to me of this man and the ‘type’ of this man in the Apostolic/Prophetic time that we live in.
Acts 10:1-2 - “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”
In the Amplified Bible this verse says that Cornelius was a devout man who venerated God and treated Him with a reverential obedience, as did his household.
What a man he must have been!! This was in a time when he had not yet had an understanding of salvation and of the cross of Jesus Christ. Somehow there was something in the integrity of this man, in his relationship with God and something on the inside of him that was sealed with the Spirit of God, that he was able to know the power of the name of God. He was a man who knew God, and he was a man who walked and lived his life as a Godly man. Here was a man who was spoken in Scripture, whose life was defined not only by what he did (he was a Roman Centurion), but who he was as a man of God.
As I was reading this I was humbled but also excited by the fact that here was a man who was acclaimed as one who walked in the fear of the Lord. Here was a man whose life and reputation was spoken of, not once, but twice as one who walked in the fear of the Lord. I began asking the Lord what was different about this man that he was renowned as one who lived his life this way, what was there about this man that he was spoken of in this way, that he was known by all around him and further a field as one who walked in the fear of the Lord? This man had this reputation, it was known, it was spoken of, and it was defining. As you read about him there are some keys that speak of his reputation but also the influence he had to those close to him. He played a role which had a huge consequence that changed history because of who he was.
Some keys to his reputation:
He was a devout man. Devout means to reverence, to have a sacred awe, to have a reverence exhibited especially in actions, reverence or awe that is well directed. All his household feared God as well.
He was a man who displayed the Fear of the Lord, he modelled it and he was able to reproduce it to those of his household. There was a generational blessing on his household because of his obedience.
He had influence over many lives, obviously he had a wife and family and servants, plus the hundred soldiers he had charge of. What a powerful statement to have been spoken over someone. He clearly lived his life as an example, one that was reproduced to others.
He gave alms generously. He was known as a generous man who gave to the poor. His reputation must have been so, that he was known for his generosity and many obviously benefited from it.
He prayed to the Lord always. He had a close relationship with the Lord and communed with Him in prayer constantly. People must have noticed the time he spent in prayer and the sacrifice involved. His prayers were effective - they were spoken of as being a memorial before God. He had a spiritual encounter with an angel who spoke to him and gave him instructions that he was obedient to put in place. His relationship with God was such that he was entrusted to carry out a message by God. God knew that he would fulfill all that he was told to do, such was his obedience.
He had the respect of those under him - when he gave instructions they were carried out. He was a man who walked in authority, but he also had the respect of those under him, again displaying righteousness and integrity in all he said and did.
He was a just man. For this to be said of him he must have spoken up at times over issues of justice. It was noticed by those around and about him that he did what was right, and because of that he earned respect.
He had a good reputation among all the nations of the Jews - in his role as a Roman Centurion. His conduct in the way he lived his life and the way he led his soldiers was noticed by even those outside his ‘people group’.
He was an effective leader - he called his relatives and close friends and they came - he was a man of influence and when he spoke all obeyed him without questioning. He must have been proven trustworthy. Maybe he had gone through trials that tested those close to him but he had come out always doing what he said, hence he was one to be trusted.
He was humble - he fell at Peter’s feet - he acknowledged who Peter was. He was instrumental in Peter getting the revelation that all men can come to God - that there was no partiality in God - it established Peter’s call. He was ready to receive all that Peter had to say. He recognised Peter as a man after the Spirit, he discerned that Peter was a man of God. As a result the Holy Spirit was poured out on all of them - he and his household received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. God honoured him for who he was and he was one of the first to receive the new truth of the Holy Spirit.
These days we don’t speak of the defining attributes of a person. We are good at acknowledging what a person does, we may speak of a person’s character, but we don’t speak of the depth of who a person truly is. It is that statement that defines a person. It is an acknowledgment of the depth of the character of that person. It really exposes the shallowness of relationship that we have in this day and age. It is a rare thing for someone to look at a person and then define them in God. I began to think of ones at Forerunners and it was really difficult to say and define a particular person as like an aspect and attribute in God. At Forerunners there were only two that I could say who were truly defined, that I could put a Godly definition on. They were:
Lynne: a woman who knows God
Margie: God’s love.
In some ways it is easy to speak of someone and define them by a particular function they do, but it is a deeper truth and deeper revelation to clearly define, speak of, and acknowledge someone because of the depth of the seal of the Spirit of God on them. I don’t know if what I am writing is making sense but it is something that is beyond our minds, it is something that is discerned, it is a revelation of God’s unique spirit that is placed on a person and is integrally an aspect of that person that defines them in God. It is God in them.
I asked the Lord why, what is it that defines a person in God that brings them to a place of being esteemed highly by those close to them and those in the wider community?
I sense the key is maturity. Perhaps it is when true ‘maturity’ is attained that a person’s reputation is spoken of, that they are then esteemed and acknowledged for the depth of character that has been forged through the testings of their life. They are ones who have stood firm through the trials and testings of God. They have learnt to fully yield to God.
It is profound and it is a truth that is yet to unfold in the church. The church has not come to a place of maturity to even be able to acknowledge and be confident in, and of itself, to be able to ‘know who a person is in God’. In Scripture there were examples of where a person’s name was synonymous with them and their character. For example Peter was known as ‘the rock’ and Barnabas was known as ‘the encourager’. These were titles that defined them, they came about from the life they led but also they came about from who they were to become. It is a depth of revelation of who a person truly is. It is God’s seal on that person.
As God raises ones up at this time He is calling the apostles and prophets forth in many areas in the community. He is and will be calling ones out who have been hidden as the Lord has done the deep work. They will be defined by their character and their unique attributes that God has worked deep in their lives. They will be like as Cornelius, one who fears the Lord, one who has influence, one who is sovereignly placed in pivotal areas of society, who can and will have a huge effect in changing the foundations to put in the new. The Lord is stripping and pulling down; but these ones will be used to build and to plant. They will be the ‘new breed that is arising’. It will be in many sectors - the finances area - stockbrokers, financiers, in the area of politics, in the area of law, and in the church. I was thinking about Marc Dupont and he is one of those who is of the type of Cornelius - one who knows and walks in the fear of the Lord.
Oh Lord my heart cry is to be as Cornelius, that it is spoken ‘she is one who walks in the fear of the Lord.’
