Acts 9

Miracles happen

Are there things happening here at MACC that could only be explained by the presence of the Holy Spirit?

Are there things happening in your life that could only be explained by a miracle of God?

When we build up the Church

Acts 9:31-32 (ESV)

1 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

Walking in fear of the Lord

1st every step counts..

We have these watches that count our steps..on Sundays when I preach in the two hours I preach I get all my days steps in

2nd step in the word of God

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

by knowing what you did wrong..

Lily

1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

3rd walk in the light

Psalm 89:15 (ESV)

Our Lord, you bless those

who join in the festival

and walk in the brightness

of your presence.

Comfort in the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

ut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The church is accompilishing the task to spread the gospel

When we spread the Gospel the Holy Spirit works among us

No matter what the world is doing or who is in power..

John 14:16 (ESV)

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[f] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[g] in you.

The Greek word used in these verses is parakletos

One who is called to our side.

What this means is we are never alone

Romans 8:16 (ESV)

he Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Multiplication

The church multipled

This is a miracle.. the church was growing under persecution in a time when someone was just killed for this belief in Jesus

Peter was going here and there among them to teach them and encourage them he was being a good shepherd

Saints this word appears in vs 13,32 41.. the word literally means different.. not like the world.. new hearts ..new minds these saints are new creations

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

When we see our sickness for what it is

Acts 9:33-35 (ESV)

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Us paralyzed in sin

Paralyzed by poverty

Paraylyzed by hopelessness, shame guilt sadness, bitterness, fear.deer in a headlight

Mark 9 Jesus heals a paralyzed man and you know what the first thing he says to him?

Matthew 2:5-11 (ESV)

5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” (they are paralyzed by their religion)

8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[a] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

Psalm 103:2-3 (ESV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul,     and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity,     who heals all your diseases

Now its one thing to be paralyzed but maybe some here today are ..Dead..

Acts 9:36-39a (ESV)

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

Dorcas was her Greek name and Tabitha is her Aramaic name.. most likely the language they where speaking

She was dead.. she was incapable just like Aeneas they where both incapable to free themselves from their illness

Romans 8:9b-11 (ESV)

Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[a] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

When we talk about our sin and our separation from God we talk about “total depravity”

Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Always be willing to be used by God

Acts 9:38-42 (ESV)

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”

39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Where peter is ..he is surrounded by gentiles. People not like him, a different culture different way of life ..

Gods truth will always open of eyes

Seeing the truth.. last week paul. And the scales fell of his eyes..the disciples walking with Jesus and their eyes where covered.

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV)

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

The reason for a Miracle

Acts 9:42 (ESV)

42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Miracle: A “miracle” is a wonder or marvel that defies rational explanation. It surpasses all known human or natural powers. Because of this, it has to be attributed to supernatural causes. In other words, a miracle thrusts itself into our world from somewhere beyond the boundaries of all that we are able to observe, measure, and understand.

Get a box—Dr Tackett in truth project

Man cannot walk on water

Snakes cannot talk

Dead people are dead

Water is not wine

This is stuff in the box

So our reality and all we know has to fit in that box..

This all changes when I put my faith in God.

God is outside the box and because my faith is founded in God who is outside the box he is able to put his hand in the box and manipulate whats in that box however he wants.. he could even change the box to a globe if he wanted. He is sovereign so all of this changes my perspective on how I view this world..

Are miracles possible yes by God..

1 Peter 2:21 (ESV)

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Perhaps the true miracle here is who God is using to do this miracle

Peter denied Jesus three times

Peter rebuked Jesus

Jesus told Peter at one point to Get behind me satan..at one point peter was paralyzed in his pride, his sin..he was dead.. but Jesus restores him call him the rock because Peter finally gave everything to Jesus.

Acts 9:34 (ESV)

34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you

this is life or death

Isaiah 53:3-4 (ESV)

3 He was despised and rejected by men,     a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces     he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs     and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken,     smitten by God, and afflicted.

Acts 9:32-43 (ESV)

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

It’s not where you live but how you live