Bottom Line

God is the Master Strategist, inviting each of us to take action and join Him.

At Caesarea there was a man namedCornelius, 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 mento 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.
Acts 10:1-8 NIV

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
Genesis 12:1-4 NLT

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.
Psalm 22:27-28 NIV

For the eyes of the Lord run to-and-fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV

Cornelius knew God.
Cornelius feared God and had faith inHim.
Cornelius walked in faithfulness.
Cornelius pleased God and was accepted by Him.
God instructed Cornelius in the way he should go and Cornelius obeyed.

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 mento Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
Acts 10:3-5 NIV

“He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
Acts 10:6 NKJV

And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10:7-8 NKJV

“God's plans cannot be thwarted. Therefore, hide yourself in him; the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it, and they are saved.”
‍Proverbs 18:10 NIV

God out-strategizes the enemy every time.
He’s God, the Master Strategist.
The King always has one more move!

Action Steps

• Do I trust that God is at work… even when I don’t know where it’s going?
• Remember at least three “but God” times in your life. (Distant and current. Big and not-so-big.)
• What does a readied heart look like?
• Am I keeping my heart ready so, like Cornelius, I can join God’s strategic mission? What might be standing in my way?