The Miracle of God's Love

The Miracle of God’s Love - Intro - Setting/Joppa/Lydda/Peter

Don’t look at the sign, look at what the sign is pointing to.

1. God’s Love Restores Our Value

Acts 9:32–34 NASB95

Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up.

A currency contains the image of the person on whom it is backed by. The more trustworthy the person on the coin or bill, the more valuable it is.

If a dollar bill is torn in two, it can be taped together and exchanged at the bank for a new bill. Peter is applying the tape so that others will see it is possible.

a. Our Value was Lost in Adam

Genesis 1:26–27 NASB95

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Romans 5:14 NASB95

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Luke 20:19–26 NASB95

The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them. So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor. They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But He detected their trickery and said to them, “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.

b. Our Value is Restored in Christ

Romans 5:19–21 NASB95

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Aeneas had only been paralyzed for eight years, so it must have been the result of an injury or disease.

As a paralytic, Aeneas would have been unable to provide for himself and would depend solely on the charity of others to survive. He would be seen as a burden on society.

The sign of physical healing in this life is like tape on a dollar bill. It demonstrates that the person has value as one of God’s image-bearers, but God offers an even better exchange to all who come to Him in repentance and faith.

Are you trying to tape yourself together to show others that you matter, or do you matter because God has made you a new person?

Do you want God to tape up your life, or do you want a new life?

(30m)

2. God’s Love Rewards Our Faithfulness

Acts 9:36–41 (NASB95)

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”

So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

But Peter sent them all out 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.

And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

a. The Church Recognized God’s Faithfulness

The Church believed that Tabitha was so necessary to God’s plan for them that they trusted He would do a mighty work for their sake because of His love.

Luke 11:5–13 NASB95

Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? “Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

We don’t ask God for signs to prove His faithfulness, we see signs because of His faithfulness.

b. God Recognized Tabitha’s Faithfulness

Acts 9:36 NASB95

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

Acts 9:39 NASB95

So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

She was famous in the Church for her kindness and generosity.

She was known as a true disciple of Jesus (only female usage).

Tabitha clothed the widows in the Church as a reminder that God would clothe them with the righteousness of Christ in eternity.

2 Corinthians 5:1–8 NASB95

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

God did not resurrect Tabitha to bless her; God resurrected Tabitha to bless His Church.

What is a way that you can bless God’s Church as a reminder of His faithfulness?

(15m)

3. God’s Love Reunites His Family

Acts 9:35 NASB95

And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Acts 9:42–43 NASB95

It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

a. He Reunites With The Ones We Accept

The Jews were already considered God’s people by ethnicity, but through trusting in Jesus they became God’s people in reality.

Romans 9:3–8 (NASB95)

For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.” That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

b. He Reunites With The Ones We Reject

Tanners were considered unclean and unwelcome because they handled dead animals for a living.

Ephesians 2:11–22 NASB95

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

(5m)

CONCLUSION

If we look closely, we can see that the greatest miracle of all in these stories is God bringing people to Himself through Jesus and the Church.

Do you feel worthless? In Christ, you are valuable and loved by God.

Are you faithful? In Christ, you are perfect and loved by God.

Are you rejected? In Christ, you are reunited and loved by God.

Don’t be foolish to think that you can please God more than Jesus can.

Don’t be afraid to come to the God who loves you so much that He sent His Son to take your punishment.

Don’t be ashamed to come to Jesus who took your shame on the Cross.