A Faithful Call and a Servant Leader
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Introduction |
How we respond to God’s call on our life affects not only us but others as well. As we look at our text, we are drawn to this truth being fleshed out before us. Our text opens up with the following, Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha. As one read this, the Old Testament story of Jonah and whale should come to mind. As pointed out by Warren Wiersbe in his commentary on Acts…
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: Peter’s Miracle Ministry (Acts 9:32–10:48)
Jonah went to Joppa to avoid going to the Gentiles, but Peter in Joppa received his call to go to the Gentiles! Because Jonah disobeyed God, the Lord sent a storm that caused the Gentile sailors to fear. Because Peter obeyed the Lord, God sent the “wind of the Spirit” to the Gentiles and they experienced great joy and peace. What a contrast!
Through this text, we see a faithful call and a servant leader being faithful to his call. May we be challenged by both.
Focus Passage | Acts 9:36-43
Outline |
A Disciples’ Death (vv. 36-37)
Tabitha was a female disciple of the Lord - ‘…a disciple named Tabitha…’
Within our text, we introduced to an important woman in the city of Joppa. Not just an important woman, she was a disciple, mathetria, of the Lord. This is the only feminine form of the word disciple within the New Testament. Let this not sway you from believing that women cannot be used of God in a mighty way. That’s just not true. We find throughout the New Testament differing way in which the Lord uses women in mighty ways to further His kingdom.
Whether male or female, we are all important to service in God’s kingdom. Young or old, we are all important to service in God’s kingdom. We must be willing to serve. We must serve the Lord faithfully in his service. We are to be students of the Lord. We are to be followers of the Lord. This truly is the meaning of being a disciple. It means to be a pupil. Tabitha/Dorcas, was what we should all strive to be, a genuine pupil of the Lord.
We are true pupil’s of the Lord when we are studying the word and living the word out. As James writes, Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves (James 1:21-22 NASB). Tabitha was one who not only heard the word, but allowed the implanted word to be the guiding light of her life. Along with being speared on by the implanted word as a pupil, a disciple of the Lord…
Tabitha was a gifted servant of the Lord - ‘…this woman was excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually…’
We can surmise from our text, that Tabitha was more than likely a widow, and had great gifts in hospitality, encouragement, and understood the need for service. We find without our text that she was a seamstress and used that gifting to honor God through helping other widows.
39 So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the room upstairs; 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.
Once again, Tabitha, this disciple of the Lord, is an example to us today. Not only should be true students/pupils of the Lord’s teachings, but we should also be about using our different gifts in service to the Lord. All of us have different gifts and we should use those gifts in the service of the Lord to help and assist in the work of the church and with others.
Tabitha’s death was a great loss - ‘…she became sick and died…’
The loss of this disciple, as with any other saint of God was great. We need to understand that God acknowledges this truth when he inspired the psalmist to write…
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones.
Many times in my ministry I have personally felt the sting of losing sweet disciples of the Lord and felt the vacuum that was left in the ministry of the heart of the church. When any saint of God, a true disciple of God has their homecoming, it’s felt by all. The loss of Tabitha was no different. It is in during these times that we must accept the truth that Job stated as he set at the table and heard the news that he had lost all his possessions, all his wealth, and all his children, all at one time.
21 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
But there’s more to the story of Tabitha than just her death. As we continue our study within this text, we find…
A Call of Faith and a Servant Leader (vv. 38-41)
A call of faith came from the people of Joppa - ‘…Do not delay in coming to us…’
The fellow disciples that served right beside Tabitha had heard of healing ministry of Peter while he was Lydda. Lydda was only about 10 miles away (3 hours if you walked) from Joppa, and called out to Peter, come and help. They knew that Jesus had resurrected three others while He had His earthly ministry, one of those was Jarris’ daughter. They knew that Peter served that same Jesus and they did too. They knew that faith was what they needed. They called over to Peter and said, come. This call to come was a call of faith.
They saw a dead woman and knew there was one that could bring life back into that dead body and that was Jesus. Let’s call Jesus’ man and let him pray for a miracle. Brothers and sisters, do you know someone that is dead this morning? Do you know someone that needs life this morning? When is the last time you called out in faith and prayed for that friend, that loved one, and asked God to bring them life?
A servant leader responded to their call of faith - ‘…Peter got ready and went with them…’
Peter, an apostle, of the Lord, came at request. When one things of apostleship, they think of authority, leadership. They think of one being in charge and being served, not the exact opposite. May I submit to you, that a true leader of faith is going to be a servant-leader. As Jesus Himself stated, he came to serve not be served. We are called to be servants of one another. There is no room in the economy of God for self-service and ego trips. We are called to serve one another. You cannot lead faithfully, if you cannot serve faithfully. It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about our Lord and He was the prime example of servitude. May we be faithful to follow His example.
A servant leader acted in faith - ‘…Peter…knelt down and prayed…’
When we are called upon, let us follow the example of Peter and respond in faith and truly call upon the Lord in faith knowing it is only in faith that He will respond. As we respond in faith, pray in faith, and act in faith, we can be assured of…
Kingdom Growth…the Result of Faith (vv.42-43)
Peter stepped out in an act of faith and gave Tabitha a hand in her newly restored life - ‘…he gave her his hand and raised her up…’
Brothers and sisters, the salvation process, the birth of a new life in Christ, is only the beginning. Once that person accepts Christ, they must realize that they are a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). Just as Tabitha setup when life was restored to her, that new follower of Christ may be setting up and no longer laying down dead, we must understand that they need a hand to to be raised up. They need someone to take them by the hand, disciple them, and lead them in their new life. They truly need a hand up not a hand out.
New believers were added to the kingdom due to acts of faith - ‘…many believed in the Lord…’
Salvation and discipleship continued in Joppa, a gentile nation - ‘…Peter stayed in Joppa many days with a tanner named Simon…’
Conclusion |
Where do you find yourself in this text? Do you find yourself as Tabitha, dead? Do you need life? Maybe you are a new Christian, and you need someone to take you by the hand disciple you? Maybe you are a Christian and have a gift from God, but you find yourself setting on the sideline rather than being on the field. May today be the day that you step out on the field and begin using your talents and gifts for God. Maybe you know that new Christian that needs to be discipled and encouraged and needs that hand up. Be the one that helps them! How are you to respond? You come!