THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye & Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye
MEMORISE: “And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing.” (Acts 10:30, KJV)
BIBLE READING: ACTS 10:25-31 (KJV)
[25] And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. [26] But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. [27] And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. [28] And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. [29] Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? [30] And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, [31] And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
I. THE ANATOMY OF A DIVINE ENCOUNTER
The story of Cornelius is one of the most significant turning points in the New Testament. It represents the moment the Gospel broke through the cultural and religious barriers of the Jewish people to reach the Gentile world. But this historic breakthrough did not happen by chance; it was birthed in the secret place of prayer and fasting by a man who was not even a “trained” minister of the Gospel.
A. The Character of the Seeker
Cornelius was a Roman centurion—a man of authority in the natural world. However, the Bible identifies him by his spiritual credentials rather than his military rank. He was:
- Just and God-fearing: He lived a life of integrity.
- A Giver (Almsgiver): He understood that prayer without a heart for the needy is incomplete.
- A Man of Good Report: His life was a testimony even among those who were not of his nation.
B. The Discipline of the Ninth Hour
In Acts 10:30, Cornelius reveals the secret to his visitation: “I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house.” Many people desire divine encounters, but few are willing to discipline their bodies and schedules to meet God. Cornelius was not a Jew, yet he adopted the Jewish hours of prayer. He was consistent. He was intentional. He was expectant. When you combine fasting with fervent prayer, you create a spiritual atmosphere that “compels” Heaven to respond.
II. DEBUNKING THE MYTH OF EXCLUSIVITY
There is a dangerous misconception among teenagers and young Christians today. Many believe that angelic encounters, visions, and audible voices from God are reserved exclusively for “General Overseers,” “Prophets,” or “Aged Pastors.” They believe that because they are young or do not hold a title in the church, God will not speak to them directly.
This is a lie from the pit of hell.
A. God is No Respecter of Persons
God does not look at your title; He looks at your hunger. Cornelius was a soldier, not a priest. Yet, God bypassed many religious leaders in Jerusalem to send an angel to a Roman centurion’s house in Caesarea. If your hunger for God is genuine, your age or social status will not stop Him from visiting you.
B. My Personal Testimony: The Worker and the Vision
I remember when I was just a worker in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). I had no title; I was not a Pastor or a leader. One Sunday, I went to use the restroom, and suddenly, a vision began to play before my eyes like a movie on a screen.
In that vision, I saw a specific protocol: whenever a pastor was to minister on the pulpit, he would first emerge from a dedicated prayer room. It was a visual instruction on the necessity of “fresh fire” before public ministry. When I shared this vision with my Father in the Lord (Pa Akindayomi), he was shocked. He confirmed that this was exactly how the church used to operate years before I even joined or became born again. The vision was God’s way of saying, “Go back to your roots of prayer.
The lesson here is simple: God spoke to a worker. If He could show me—a common mathematician and church worker—the future and secrets of a great ministry, He can surely show you great things as well.
III. HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR VISITATION
If you want to see mighty visions of things to come, you must move beyond casual “grace-saying” prayers and enter the realm of fervency.
A. Fervency over Formality
The Bible says the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Fervent prayer is “heart-work.” It is the kind of prayer that refuses to be distracted. Cornelius was praying in his house, but his spirit was touching the throne of God.
B. The Memorial of Giving
The Angel told Cornelius, “Thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God” (Acts 10:31).
Your kindness to the poor and your support for the work of God act as a “memorial”—a spiritual signal that draws God’s attention to your case. If you are stingy and selfish, you may find that the heavens seem “brass” when you pray.
C. Persistence in Fasting
Fasting is the act of quieting the flesh so the spirit can hear. Cornelius was fasting for four days. He was serious about hearing from God. In an age of instant gratification and constant social media noise, can you switch off your phone for a few hours to seek the face of the One who holds your future?
IV. THE PURPOSE OF DIVINE ENCOUNTERS
Why does God want to give you a vision? Is it just for excitement? No.
For Salvation: The vision led Cornelius to Peter, which led to the salvation of his entire household.
For Direction: My vision in the restroom gave the church direction on how to maintain spiritual power.
For Revelation: God wants to show you what is coming in 2026 and beyond so that you can be prepared.
CONCLUSION
My dear child, the same God who visited Cornelius and showed me visions when I was just a worker is the same God you serve today. He is eager to show you things that your teachers, parents, and friends do not know. He wants to show you the path to your success and the secrets of His Kingdom.
However, the ball is in your court. You must pray. You must seek. You must knock. If you remain casual, you will remain common. But if you become fervent like Cornelius, your house will become a portal for angelic visitations.
PRAYER POINT: Father, please let me encounter You in new and mighty ways; open my eyes to see and my ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to my generation.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19, Revelation 9:1-21
HYMN: 43 – LEAD US HEAVENLY FATHER, LEAD US
- Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us
O’er The World’s Tempestuous Sea;
Guard Us, Guide Us, Keep Us, Feed Us,
For We Have No Help But Thee,
Yet Possessing Every Blessing
If Our God Our Father Be.
- Saviour, Breathe Forgiveness O’er Us;
All Our Weakness Thou Dost Know;
Thou Didst Tread This Earth Before Us,
Thou Didst Feel Its Keenest Woe;
Lone And Dreary, Faint And Weary,
Through The Desert Thou Didst Go.
- Spirit Of Our God, Descending,
Fill Our Hearts With Heavenly Joy,
Love With Every Passion Blending,
Pleasure That Can Never Cloy;
Thus Provided, Pardoned, Guided,
Nothing Can Our Peace Destroy.
