prepare Peter to answer the prayer. This is always true of genuine prayer which comes from a God-given burden. Let us not think that God is an over loaded supply depot doling out answers indiscriminately simply because some one says, “Oh, God, I need this; give me that.” There are very significant rules for prayer. When they are not fol lowed, the petitioner has no right to expect God to answer. No one ever frustrates God. When Cornelius’ mes sengers arrived, the Lord had already calmed impetuous Peter. He was de termined to be civil to his Gentile guests. I do not know on what plane of spiritual existence you may be liv ing. You may not be acquainted with the Lord. Mark you well, however, no one can have a true sense of satisfaction and peace unless he is in right rela tionship with the Lord. You may have religion and church activity, and they may act as temporary tranquilizers to soothe and comfort you, but you will soon find they do not bring lasting or constant satisfaction. They are aching voids which always need filling. This was true of Cornelius and it is true of everyone who has not yet learned to talk with Christ. Turn over the controls of your life to Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Saviour. Surrender your stub born will to His and He will truly satisfy your heart, soul and mind! Chapter Two A s far as the background of Peter is concerned, although he was a Christian, he was still Jewish in his thinking. The very thought of a Gen tile being put on the same spiritual level with him was in no wise appeal ing. Cornelius had sent his servant to call for Peter bringing him back to the military garrison at Caesarea. As the men were making their journey to the place where Peter was staying, Peter, himself, went up on the roof of his house as he waited for dinner to be prepared. As it was hot there, Peter soon began to doze off; the aroma of the food downstairs filtering up through the roof top. Suddenly God came to him in a vision. A huge sheet
was let down from heaven containing all sorts of animals and birds. Peter saw the animals, and being hungry, he remembered his old duty of Judaistic training. He knew that Jews were not permitted to eat such food. So in the trance, Peter shouted out, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” Here is a rather strange contradic tion in terms. Peter was addressing God as Lord. He implied thereby a willing obedience to the divine purpose of the Master, yet at- the same time he said, “No, Lord.” These two words just don’t TEMPER When I have lost my temper, And my cheeks are flaming red, I have always uttered something Which I wish I had not said. In anger I have never Done a kindly deed or wise, But many things for which I felt I should apologize. In looking back across my life, And all I've lost or made, I can't recall a single time When fury ever paid. So I struggle to be patient, I have lost my reason too. I'm never proud of anything Which angrily I do. When I have talked in anger go together. When we answer a com mand from our Redeemer, the only possible response we can give is “Yes, Lord.” But before we criticise Peter too much, let us look in the mirror. Have you and I ever said, “O yes, Lord, we love you! We’ll go where you want us to go; we’ll do what you want us to do!” But when He asks us to put our selves out just a little for His sake we say, “O no, Lord, not that; that would interfere with our social life, or our (continued on next page) 19 For I've reached a wiser age; I do not want to do a thing Or speak a word in rage. I have learned by sad experience That when my temper flies I never do a worthy deed, A decent deed or wise,
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