Joy of Serving Jesus

Acts 9:32-43

Introduction

Acts is full of excitement

Sometimes we feel like Christian life should be this constant high energy pursuit to change the world

That’s just exhausting

Luke is showing us how Gospel spread not what daily life of believer is like

In midst of the excitement & amazing are glimpses of life

Things like daily fellowship of believers, support of one another, dedication to prayer

Today’s passage is one of the miracle passages but it also shows us impact of quiet, daily life for Christ

Reminds us of the great joy in serving Christ

It can be a very encouraging passage

Miraculous work of God, power to save

Also shows that God does use our service for Him in wonderful way

No matter what that service is, when it’s done for Him, it brings fruit

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

It can be a very challenging passage too

Certainly is for me

How am I using my life to serve Jesus?

Our modern, western way of life can be very isolating normally

Covid lockdowns etc. have increased that

In midst of all of all of this how can my life be used to reach others for Christ – both for salvation and for growing

3 benefits/blessings that come from serving Christ:

Christ is exalted; lives are changed; hearts are expanded

Christ is Exalted

Acts 9:32-34

Carry the Gospel with You

Acts 9:32

To tell people about Jesus (evangelise)

Luke brings us back to Pete for a bit

Building transition & expansion of Gospel

Leading us to missionary journeys of Paul

We’re not in Jerusalem but travelling with Peter through regions outside of Jer.

Pete takes mission very seriously/personally

Not needed as much in Jer – James is Pastor

More freedom to spread Gospel

I love these example in early church

People find Jesus in Jer but take Him with them wherever they go

Pete’s life is changing & ministry changes with it

Carry the Gospel with you wherever you go

Be ‘on mission’

When was the last time you genuinely shared the Gospel with someone?

Not just said something Bibley

But spoke the word of Salvation in part or whole

To teach the people of Jesus (disciple)

Pete’s travels aren’t exclusively evangelistic

When I say that we need to be evangelistic & share Gospel I don’t mean that’s the only thing that matters

Acts 9:32, 36 – Pete is visiting disciples

Pete is also teaching God’s people

Perhaps he’s following ministry of Philip

Establishing, instructing, encouraging

Service of Christ summed up in 1 great phrase: make disciples

Lead people to Christ then help them grow in Christ

This is the great theme of Acts

Clearly that is a team effort

Serve People for God’s Glory

Acts 9:34, 40

God is at work

Why is this section of miracles here?

We already know Pete been given unique divine power – seen it before

We know Paul is about to begin

It does form an important transition purpose

More than that

Perhaps it’s a reminder that just because God is beginning a work somewhere else doesn’t mean He’s stopped working here

Not just that God is at work through Peter

Also seeing that God is still at work in Peter

Just like Peter is being used to grow others God is still growing Peter

God’s power & work are not limited

God may be doing wonderful work in people around you but that doesn’t mean He’s not still working in & through you

Give God all the glory

There are some subtle words here which echo loudly

Acts 9:34 – Jesus the Christ heals you

Pattern of Pete to give God all glory for miracles he performs

Pete & Apostles are never trying to gain notoriety from Jesus

Acts 9:40 – put them out

Before he raises from the dead he clears the room

If you could do that wouldn’t you want people to see? Not Pete

Doesn’t want any part of what he does to distract from glory of Christ

Pete’s miraculous work is never about him

Always makes sures Jesus is glorified

Whole bunch of people trying to build their brand off of Jesus today

It can be simpler than that too

Maybe I want people to see my service for God and think I’m a good Christian

Maybe to praise me for my talent, humility or selflessness

If we’re truly going to serve Christ we need to be prepared to serve Him in an empty room

Real joy of serving Christ is when I know that I’m far enough out of the way so Jesus is clearly seen

Lives are Changed

Acts 9:35-42

The Lost are Found

Acts 9:35

People turn to the Lord

Our service is for Jesus but it’s about people

We know church isn’t a building but it’s also not programs

Both of those things are helpful

In both places many people are saved

Say, of course Peter did miracle

Jesus did many more miracles but He left behind small number of disciples

Miracle help but they don’t save

True miracle is work of God in hearts through ministry of His people

1st & greatest reason for service is so people will get saved

Not so we can have big church, fame, influence, power

Serve Christ so people will turn to the Lord

Means Gospel must be spoken

Doesn’t mean only ministry useful to God is preaching

You serve Christ and people will get saved

There is no greater joy than helping someone find salvation

Futures are changed

Joy that isn’t temporary

Fills your heart with joy

People find true life, eternal life

By power of God that life changed leads to more lives changed

Families are changed, new legacies are created

Songs of joy fill the air in heaven

The Saints are Strengthened

Acts 9:36-42

Your service makes a difference

Circumstances around her death & burial are unusual

Wouldn’t normally keep body in upper room

Perhaps it was done in expression of hope & faith

Knew Peter was near

Even in this time with mighty power of Apostles, to raise someone from dead would be very unusual

When she died the church in Joppa felt a deep loss

Tabitha wasn’t a preacher, evangelist, etc.

She made clothes

That ministry touched lives

Her life made a mark, very personal mark

Doesn’t matter how you serve

Doesn’t matter what gifts, talents, abilities you use for Jesus

When you reach into people’s lives with love of Christ, it makes a difference

You don’t have to change the world to leave your mark on this world

You change the world when you leave a mark on people’s lives

Pursue hospitality

This type of practical love has a name: hospitality

Rom. 12:13 – distributing to the needs of the saints, [pursue] given to hospitality.

Hospitality is an essential part of Christian character

It’s practical expression of love of God

Tangible, outward display of godly character

Hospitality literally means love of strangers

Not just about showing love to others but Bible also tells us to show hospitality to believers (1 Pet. 4:9)

We might describe hospitality as loving strangers into family

Hospitality industry is about serving people but that’s not same as biblical hospitality

Biblical hospitality is both actions & affection

It’s meeting people’s needs with love

E.g. Play on 1 Cor. 13

Though I feed the hungry, clothe the cold & house the poor and do not have love it is empty

Biblical hospitality has a greater purpose than just meeting a temporal need

It’s meeting temporal needs out of genuine love for those in need

Hospitality is to open your home and your heart to the needs of others

“Hardly anything is more characteristic of Christian love than hospitality. Through the ministry of hospitality we share the things we value most: family, home, financial resources, food, privacy, and time. In other words, we share our lives.” – Alexander Strauch

Dining table and lounge rooms can be powerful places of ministry

Joy of serving Jesus is found in lives that are changed

Serving Jesus fills with joy because Christ is exalted; lives are changed and…

Hearts are Expanded

Acts 9:43

God’s Love Grows in You

This verse partly works as a map marker for where Peter is as we enter Acts 10 - seems to be more than that

In another example of hospitality Simon the tanner hosts Peter

Tanners work with dead animals

This made them unclean & disrespected part of Jewish society

Peter was no Jewish elitist but the longer we travel with Peter the more open we see his heart become

Love of God was expanding his heart for people of all types, positions & ethnicities

Jesus began teaching this when he would eat with the outcasts of society

More you serve God the more you begin to see the world as He does

God’s Love Flows from You

This doesn’t just change how we see people but it changes how we act towards people

Main point of this detail may not be because Simon is a tanner/outcast

It does act as transition to Peter’s next stage of growth – gentiles

As you use your life to serve God He will transform the way you live in this world

Absolutely true that the Gospel genuinely brings reconciliation between people

It really doesn’t matter how you serve God

Maybe you feed people, teach people, make clothes, pray with them, etc.

However God has made you to serve

In serving God will open your opportunities and expand you heart in love

Conclusion

There is nothing in this life that fills with joy like serving Jesus

It’s rarely easy & it’s certainly costly (time, emotions, money, etc.)

Blessings that result can’t be compared

Live your life so Jesus is exalted

Share your faith with unbelievers & strengthen the faith of believers

Serve so that people see Jesus

Give of yourself so that lives are changed

Open your heart and open your home

Your acts of service can make a difference

You will find as you serve in love that your capacity to love will expand

Pursue to live a life that marks the lives of others

Doesn’t mean has to be remarkable just loving

Consider the joy that God has given you through your service to Him

Thank God for that & give Him praise

How will you serve Christ this week?

In your family?

In your community/neighbourhood?

In your workplace?

In this church? This body, these brothers & sisters of yours need your service

2 Cor 9:6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Benediction

Rom. 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.